The Australian government has identified three key sectors in future transport and mobility — intelligent transport systems (ITS), connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) and mobility as a service (MaaS).
Research firm Frost & Sullivan estimates the country's future transport market to generate more than $16 billion in revenue by 2025.
To prepare for the arrival of automated or connected vehicles and other transport innovations, the government recently established the Office of Future Transport Technologies, with an investment of A$ 9.7 million, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack.
The government official said with the new office, the government will have an enhanced role in implementing future transport technologies in Australia. More specifically, the development and uptake of automated vehicle technologies and associated applications would be managed.
“Automated vehicles are on the verge of becoming commercially available here and the Australian government is taking proactive steps to manage the associated challenges and opportunities within that evolving and future transport landscape,” McCormack was quoted as saying in a news release.
In an address to a Roads Australia event recently held in Sydney, McCormack emphasized the need for Australian governments and industry to collaborate effectively and develop the right policy, regulation, and infrastructure, to adapt to future technology use.
“Getting Australians home sooner and safer is a core focus of our government and the emergence of automated vehicles represents a significant opportunity to realize safety and productivity benefits while supporting Australian industry and innovation,” he said, adding that these technologies also have great potential to reduce the $27 billion cost of road crashes in Australia each year.
“I expect the Office to collaborate across governments to ensure automated vehicles are safe, to consider future infrastructure needs, to make sure cybersecurity safeguards are in place, and to support Australian businesses in taking advantage of new commercial opportunities.
