NZTA Mobility as a Service pilot a major turning point in modern motoring

The Australia and New Zealand Driverless Vehicle Initiative (ADVI) says the NZ Transport Agency’s Mobility as a Service Pilot announcement represents a major transitional milestone in modern motoring.

ADVI Centre of Excellence Executive Director, Ms Rita Excell, said “We were pleased to be invited to attend the announcement of a pilot which is believed to be the first of its type to be conducted in the Southern Hemisphere. This will provide critical insight into people’s preparedness to embrace new transport technology options.”

“There is clear and growing excitement across Australian and New Zealand communities about shared and on demand transport options,” Ms Excell said.

“In this instance, opting to showcase technology within a tourist setting not only takes pressure off the existing transport network but also engages people who are already in an open and adventurous mindset, who want new experiences,” she said.

“The pilot results are sure to reinforce the need for an integrated process that embraces a much larger view of mobility; one that considers the changing transport options of users. We are already seeing a growing number of Australians opting to not have a licence, and as we see a decline in car ownership, transport planners must learn from this Mobility as a Service pilot on how to best incorporate new technologies, including driverless vehicles into the transport mix.”

Ms Excell said the emergence of a mobility-as-a-service serves as an indicator that commuters are prepared to swap vehicle ownership in favour a pick and drop-off service using shared options that still offer transport freedom.

“Findings from a 2016 ADVI-commissioned survey found that nearly half (43%) of Australians are comfortable to travel on public transport (such as a bus or taxi) with no driver, while 46% were comfortable to share a driverless car with other people – despite most yet to even have a driverless vehicle experience,” she said.

“With such strong interest in this technology, we can expect Australia and New Zealand to remain as international leaders in the modern transport and mobility space, and ADVI is proud to play a key role in leading the safe introduction of this technology onto our road networks with our many partners.”

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 About the Australia and New Zealand Driverless Vehicle Initiative (ADVI)

ADVI is the peak body that spans the wide ecosystem of driverless vehicles in Australia and New Zealand. With a membership of 100 leading organisations across a wide range of sectors, ADVI offers a unique opportunity for Government to collaborate with Industry and researchers, to position Australia and New Zealand amongst the world leaders in the development and deployment of driverless technology. ADVI’s education, advocacy and demonstration efforts help to inform and raise awareness, encourage community acceptance, and ensure understanding of the economic, environmental and lifestyle benefits of driverless vehicles.