In a report, ‘EU Roadmap for Truck Platooning’, ACEA – the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association – gave a detailed timeline of steps it will take, along with guidance for policymakers and authorities on the regulatory changes needed for cross-border truck platooning.
Erik Jonnaert, secretary general of ACEA, presented the report to the European Parliament last week (9 May).
He said: “The technology for platooning with trucks of the same brand is already available today. But clearly customers will need to be able to platoon with trucks of different brands, so our next objective is to introduce multi-brand platooning.”
Being able to drive across European borders with multi-brand platoons is a “prerequisite for international transport”, he added.
For this to happen, he added, Europe will need to create a supportive regulatory framework: “And that’s exactly where the policymakers come in. They will need to develop new rules, make changes to existing legislation, and harmonise international and EU rules.”
As well as regulatory changes, governments need to offer political support, including incentives such as toll and tax reductions, CO2 bonuses or flexibility in driving time.
Jonnaert stressed that the plan applies only to semi-automated platoons, not fully autonomous trucks which will come later.