Brazil is world’s most unprepared country for the introduction of self-driving cars – sponsored

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil is the least prepared for self-driving cars among the 25 most economically developed countries in the world. This conclusion is contained in a special report of a large audit and consulting company KPGM.

WHAT’S BAD

The study found that lack of testing and incentives from the government side make Brazil an unfavorable environment for self-driving cars. The KPMG report states that the country is a very bad market for the development of projects related to autonomous transport.

Brazil ranks last in the ranking of the 25 most economically developed countries in the world. Also in the lowest places are India, Mexico, Hungary, and Russia.

Four areas were used as assessment criteria to determine market readiness: policy and legislation, technology and innovation, infrastructure, and consumer acceptability.

According to KPMG analysts, the situation in Brazil could be improved with new incentive programs from the government to improve the efficiency, safety, and research activities of unmanned vehicles.

“Brazilian consumers tend to be quick to buy new tech products and services. There are a number of R&D projects underway at universities in Brazil, and if the government can provide incentives for the self-driving car market and manufacturers produce products at competitive prices, then we will have an excuse for optimism, “said Mauricio Endo, KPMG Senior Partner in Public Administration and Infrastructure in Brazil and Latin America.

WHO ARE THE LEADERS

The study says that the Netherlands, Singapore, and Norway are the world leaders in the issue of readiness to introduce self-driving cars. The governments of these countries pay special attention to promoting the modernization of transport and the introduction of modern technologies.

The UAE is not far behind in this race. More recently, for example, a senior official from the Roads and Transportation Authority (RTA) announced that Dubai will be one of the first cities in the world to develop regulations for the commercial use of unmanned vehicles. In addition to luxury car rental Dubai, it will soon be possible to take a real self-driving car.

In April 2021, RTA signed an agreement with Cruise (a subsidiary of GM) for the purchase of 4,000 Cruise Origin unmanned passenger shuttles (without a steering wheel, pedals, and other familiar controls), the first batch of which will hit the city’s roads in 2023. Next year, in conjunction with the legislature and the Dubai police, it is planned to introduce rules that will allow self-driving cars to operate.

Here also Evocargo entered into a partnership with RTA. They will begin testing electric and hydrogen cargo unmanned vehicles in the largest city in the United Arab Emirates. The cooperation agreement was signed during the Dubai World Congress For Self-Driving Transport-2021.

WHAT’S GOOD

However, Brazil could make a rapid leap forward in unmanned aerial vehicle adoption: aerospace conglomerate EmbraerX is one of the founders of Uber Air, an air taxi and air sharing project scheduled to start in 2023.

According to EmbraerX, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles could be offered in Brazil at an affordable price to consumers and help eliminate congestion in major cities. EmbraerX plans that flying eVTOLs will eventually become unmanned. The company believes that autonomous flying taxis may become a reality in Brazil in the next five years.

In the meantime, one of the first airports that announced plans to launch unmanned electric air taxis was Fiumicino in Rome (Italy). German startup Volocopter is planning to make Fiumicino airport a launching pad for its two-seater VoloCity flying taxis (new model) in Europe, which are “four times quieter than a conventional helicopter.” If the project between the parties is completed on time, passengers will be able to get to the city center by Volocopter from 2024.

Airport CEO Marco Troncone said that a vertical takeoff and landing air taxi flight would take about 15 minutes, compared to 45-60 minutes. travel by ordinary car. The initial cost of the service will be around € 150 ($ 175), and this price is likely to decrease as the service spreads.