Roadmap for automated mobility in Switzerland
Automated mobility
Switzerland's future mobility system is shared, intermodal and interconnected. Automated driving is an integral part of this system, making it safer, more comfortable, more efficient and more sustainable.
Starting point
Why automated vehicles
What Switzerland has
Switzerland has a dense and efficient road and rail network. The modes of transport are closely integrated and multimodality is commonplace. The infrastructure is of a high standard and offers a high level of safety, with accident rates that are low by international standards. Preserving this matters, because access to mobility is the foundation for economic prosperity and social cohesion.
What remains open
The transport system is expensive, congestion is increasing, environmental pollution remains high, agricultural land continues to be lost to road construction, and large segments of the population cannot travel, or can travel only to a limited extent.
- CHF 15.8 bnAnnual cost of building and maintaining the infrastructure.
- 55,569 hHours of traffic jams recorded on national highways, and rising.
- ≈ 250Lives claimed by traffic every year.
How automated vehicles contribute
- Over 90 %of accidents are caused by human error. Automated vehicles significantly reduce this risk.
- CHF 3 billionis the annual cost of traffic jams to Switzerland. Automated vehicles improve traffic flow.
- 500,000 peoplehave limited mobility. Automated vehicles give them more independence.
- One in three driverswill soon reach retirement age. Automation helps to mitigate the shortage of skilled workers.
- New service areasopen up in public transport, with improved services and reduced costs.
Definition
What automated driving means
Automated vehicles drive without a driver and are monitored remotely. The vehicle perceives its surroundings, makes decisions and moves safely in traffic, within a defined operating area. This is not a vision of the future: autonomous shuttles, delivery vehicles and driverless airport transport are already in use in Switzerland, and more than one million kilometres are driven without a driver worldwide every day.
- 0
Driver required
Conventional
The driver has almost full control.
- 1
Feet off
Assisted
The driver is supported by cruise control and parking assistance.
The vehicle performs individual functions.
- 2
Hands off
Partially automated
The driver monitors what is happening, but no longer steers.
The vehicle controls functions such as distancing and lane keeping.
- 3
Eyes off
Conditionally automated
The driver takes over only in individual situations.
The vehicle drives independently and warns the driver when needed.
- 4
Fully automated
Defined area of application
The driver becomes a passenger.
The vehicle performs all driving tasks within the defined area of use.
- 5
Fully automated
Everywhere
The vehicle steers and drives fully automated, and is no longer equipped with accelerator and brake pedals.
Six levels of driving automation, as defined by SAE International.
Objectives
Five objectives of equal weight
The roadmap pursues five objectives. They carry the same weight and influence one another.
Integration
Automated vehicles are fully integrated into the mobility chain for people and goods.
Framework conditions
Switzerland offers a stable yet flexible framework for the safe use of new technologies and the establishment of new services.
Acceptance
The public, politicians, authorities, business and academia support the use and spread of automated vehicles in Switzerland.
Accessibility
Automated mobility services are available throughout Switzerland, in both urban and rural areas.
Sustainability
Automated vehicles contribute to a sustainable, cost-efficient and safe transport system.
Development steps
Three phases to 2040
Integrating automated driving into an existing and highly complex system requires a phased approach. The foundation phase establishes the technical, regulatory and economic basis. The establishment phase prioritises scaling, so that larger proportions of the fleet can operate autonomously. Widespread deployment follows in the expansion phase.
Foundation phase
2026–2030
Establishment phase
2030–2035
Expansion phase
2035–2040
Public and shared passenger transport
Foundation 2026–2030
- 50 robotaxis
- 20 on-demand shuttles
- 10 public transport buses
Business case confirmed on the basis of pilot projects.
Establishment 2030–2035
- 2,000 robotaxis
- 1,000 on-demand shuttles
- 30 public transport buses
Services in numerous cities and municipalities throughout Switzerland.
Expansion 2035–2040
- 20,000 robotaxis
- 3,000 on-demand shuttles
- 100 public transport buses
Services in numerous cities and municipalities throughout Switzerland.
Freight transport
Foundation 2026–2030
- min. 15 vehicles
Business case in logistics validated.
Establishment 2030–2035
- 50 to 100 vehicles
Automated vehicles in operation.
Expansion 2035–2040
- 10 % of the fleet
Automated vehicles as a standard solution.
Roadmap focus
Individual transport
Foundation 2026–2030
- Individual vehicles
Vehicles with Level 3 type approval on Swiss motorways.
Establishment 2030–2035
- min. 1,000 vehicles
Automated vehicles on public roads.
Expansion 2035–2040
- 5 % of the fleet
Automated vehicles are part of the fleet.
Automated vehicles will be used in freight logistics and in passenger transport, and the boundary between individual and public use is becoming less distinct as shared mobility grows. Business models, vehicle types and the requirements placed on them continue to differ. In all three areas, the number of vehicles in use is expected to rise rapidly after the foundation phase.
Areas of action
Where the work starts
Deploying automated vehicles requires a range of prerequisites and developments. The map below sets out some of them and marks the priority areas of action. It is a starting point for measures in the foundation phase and a working tool for those implementing the roadmap. It will keep evolving: new areas will be added, others completed, and priorities will shift.
Projects
- Set up a large-scale project (50+ vehicles)
- Implement regional projects
- Increase the Level 3 car offering
- Develop logistics projects
- Cross-border pilot projects
Technology
- Further develop the software
- Further develop vehicles
- Simplify operations
- Improve the use of AI
Operation
- Strengthen resilience in the workplace
- Create data infrastructure
- Ensure cybersecurity and data security
- Analyse and manage risks
Business model
- Develop business cases for logistics
- Adapt public transport usage and fare models
- Develop the business case for operators
- Develop models for cooperation
Financing
- Reallocate funds for regional traffic
- Build public private partnerships
- Attract venture capital
- Leverage infrastructure investments for automated vehicles
- Build consortium models
Regulation
- Establish approval practices
- Simplify type approvals
- Define requirements for deployment
Acceptance
- Convey knowledge
- Strengthen trust in safety
- Accompany the political process
- Monitoring and controlling
Ecosystem
- Establish a technology hub
- Build a knowledge base
- Involve other stakeholders
- Ensure coordination
- Promote international networking
Priority measures
Further measures
Implementation
Action plan, monitoring and controlling
Action plan
How quickly automated mobility develops in Switzerland depends on the implementation of effective measures, and therefore on the commitment of the whole community. The action plan is developed in and with that community. It brings together the contributions that SAAM members and other stakeholders make voluntarily and independently. It is documented on the SAAM website and updated continuously.
Monitoring and controlling
Whether the objectives are being achieved will be reviewed regularly. The indicator system for this still has to be developed, and the action plan defines "monitoring and measuring development" as a priority measure. Implementation of the action plan is monitored separately: the office is setting up a streamlined system for controlling measures and reports to the SAAM board on the status of implementation and on the need for adjustments.
Possible target grid
The following sub-goals and indicators illustrate how the target grid could be structured. The content serves as an example and still has to be refined.
- ObjectiveExample sub-goalExample indicator
- IntegrationBy 2030, journeys in public automated vehicles are integrated into public transport booking platforms.Number of journeys booked via public transport apps
- RegulationBy 2030, the procedures for issuing permits are harmonised across all cantons.Degree of harmonisation
- AcceptanceBy 2030, the population has gained a high level of trust in automated vehicles.Level of public support for automated vehicles in public transport
- AvailabilityBy 2030, services based on automated vehicles are available in at least half of all cantons.Degree of penetration
- SustainabilityBy 2030, collisions involving automated vehicles are ten times less frequent than with conventional vehicles.Events per kilometre driven
The document
A framework for working together
SAAM is the national platform for automated driving. Together with its members and the federal government, the association has developed this roadmap for automated mobility in Switzerland. Publication alone is not enough: from a large number of possible measures, those that are decisive have to be prioritised, and the resulting insights have to be made available quickly and widely. Integrating automated vehicles into a highly developed transport system can only be achieved collaboratively.
Hans Wicki
President
Rémy Chrétien
Director