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Autonomous Driving – Political, Legal, Social, and Sustainability
Dimensions166
automotive industry, although it does not focus explicitly on autonomous driving [11]. Not
only has the research ministry funded research on autonomous driving, there are currently
more projects underway funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy,
one of which is the project aFAS. It is set up to develop a driverless vehicle to protect
construction sites on highways [45].
The Federal Highway Research Institute has – similarly to the NHTSA – elaborated
a nomenclature to facilitate the legal assessment of different degrees of automation.
The nomenclature distinguishes “driver only” and “assisted” systems from systems with
“partial automation” (the system takes over lateral and longitudinal control in certain
situations), “high automation” (the driver does not need to continuously monitor the
system) and “full automation” (the system fully takes over lateral and longitudinal control)
[25]. This categorization is widely accepted by German experts, bureaucrats, and political
stakeholders.
The German automotive industry has begun pushing for change. Partnering with
Nokia, Mercedes-Benz responded to the Google challenge in August 2013 with the S 500
Intelligent Drive Autonomous Car long-distance test drive. Following the path Bertha Benz
travelled in her historic 1888 long-distance road trip, the S 500 Intelligent Drive vehicle
successfully drove on its own between Mannheim and Pforzheim (with a driver behind
the wheel as a back-up). Audi, BMW, and auto-suppliers Bosch and Continental Automo-
tive Systems are working on autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle technologies as
well [40].
The German government has not, however, responded with new regulatory initiatives
or an explicit strategy to push the implementation of autonomous driving. Rather, govern-
mental actors are focused on other technology options that rather conform to European
discourses of sustainable mobility. These are linked to the broader over-arching policy
towards a low-carbon energy transformation. E-mobility, for example, is not only backed
by a strategic governmental document but is also repeatedly affirmed in speeches by high-
level politicians, including the chancellor [9], [10].
The VDA is one of the technology’s strongest proponents lobbying for regulatory
change. It is one of the few actors that has expressed a clear vision for autonomous driving
in its publications. The VDA has organized conferences centered on vehicle automation,
the connected car and autonomous driving. The VDA envisions autonomous driving to be
a widespread reality in the future. The association has illustrated concrete steps to be taken
on the way towards a self-driving future, such as Lane Changing Support, improved
human-machine-interface, and longitudinal guiding assistance [48]. In addition, supply
companies have an interest in pushing a higher degree of automation in vehicles and, con-
sequently, autonomous driving [6].
The main national arena addressing autonomous driving is a round table initiated and
run by the Transport Ministry. On the working level, the participants are trying to institu-
tionalize a stakeholder dialogue as a first step in getting the issue more strongly on the
German policy agenda. The approximately 45 round table members meet twice a year. They
consist of representatives of the German Association of Automotive Industry ( Verband der
Autonomes Fahren
Technische, rechtliche und gesellschaftliche Aspekte
Gefördert durch die Daimler und Benz Stiftung