There are already commercially available vehicles on the road today with some advanced driver-assist features, and as technological barriers continue to be overcome, the industry is steadily working towards the introduction of fully automated vehicles capable of operating under most or all conditions.

The Society of Automotive Engineers has defined vehicle automation levels on a scale from 0 to 5, ranging from no automation of any kind (Level 0), to systems that can assist drivers on very specific tasks (Levels 1-4), to systems that can perform all tasks under all conditions (Level 5). Some vehicles available to consumers today include systems up to Level 2 that automate limited tasks such as highway driving (using adaptive cruise control and lane keeping) and parallel parking. Hazard warning and intervention systems, such as blind spot detection and forward collision warning with automated braking, have also been implemented.

As CAV capabilities continue to improve, more sophisticated applications will be introduced to the public. However, there is a risk of overreliance on these systems, particularly if consumers are not made fully aware of their limitations. This creates a risk for innovators as well. While there are benefits to being the first to market, a single high-profile incident could prove catastrophic to an individual company’s reputation and set back the industry, even if the product has a net-positive impact on safety overall.

According to polling, much of the public remains wary of fully driverless vehicles, so it will be up to the manufacturers to generate and maintain trust in the capabilities and benefits of their products. Companies have different approaches to finding a balance between being the first to market and avoiding high-profile incidents. Some are prepared to take on more risk to provide willing customers with products that excite them, while others are taking a more conservative approach.