SYSTRA has been working on transport automation for several decades. Since 1975 and the studies for the VAL in Lille, the Group has established itself as a benchmark in this field,and has participated in the construction of half of the world’s automatic metro and shuttle networks. In 2018, our teams opened up reflections on The empowerment of public transport: prospects, challenges and technologies, with the publication of a first White Paper which affirmed our leadership in this area.
This year, the scope of the reflection is extended to road mobility, and more specifically to the benefits, feasibility and challenges of autonomous technologies applied to autonomous passenger transport systems. In this booklet, we show that the transition to autonomous mobility requires service design in response to territorial needs, as well as transport system engineering. And we draw inspiration from good practices observed around the world to lift the veil on the unavoidable challenges of an autonomous mobility project.

Autonomous vehicles continue to interest mobility players by promising to improve safety, quality of service and the emergence of new, more modern services. However, the autonomous vehicle is not a miracle solution and the introduction of this technology – still being tested – in our transport networks will depend on technical feasibility, which has yet to be demonstrated, and on the real usefulness of the desired service for users. This is why our historical expertise in consulting and transport engineering can provide a relevant answer to these new topics.
Mathieu Martin, New Mobility Project Manager at SYSTRA