Over the years, however, the vehicle has become a more divisive proposition. Its critics denounce yet another technology-driven fad, a harmful innovation at odds with citizens’ aspirations for environmental protection.
Its supporters, by contrast, present it as the driving force behind a new mobility revolution—more efficient, safer, more sustainable and, above all, more inclusive. Given the scale of these questions and the transformations ahead, autonomous vehicles became a key item on the agenda of business leaders and policymakers from the mid-2010s onwards.
Yet far from delivering on promises of inclusivity and sustainability, autonomous vehicles have primarily been approached through a technological lens, reflecting a form of technological determinism (techno push), while potential uses of this new mobility solution have been considered above all within an urban context.
This dual characteristic stems from the fact that the subject has been driven primarily by US technology giants, which helped shift autonomous vehicles from a research topic to a commercial one. Their efforts have shaped the collective imagination around autonomous vehicles, turning them into a luxury proposition for urban populations—far removed from the accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability often highlighted in Europe and France to justify the investments made in this technology.
“MACIF’s ambition is to play an active role in the emergence of autonomous vehicles. We must work to ensure that they help bring about more sustainable mobility and offer a new mobility solution to those who currently lack access to one, particularly in suburban and rural areas.”
Jean-Philippe Dogneton
Chief Executive Officer of MACIF Tweet
Mobility for All, Autonomy for All
To move beyond this technological determinism and overcome the fundamentally urban approach to this new technology, MACIF launched a Community of Interest on autonomous vehicles in 2020, hosted by Movin’On.
The Community of Interest developed an open, forward-looking and pre-competitive innovation initiative focused on autonomous vehicles.
With this in mind, the community brings together 12 companies, including a group of insurers (Macif, Maif, BNP Paribas Cardif, Groupama), Movin’On LAB members interested in the subject (Michelin, Kantar, Orange, Faurecia, Microsoft, Vinci, SNCF), and Deloitte as its Exclusive Knowledge Partner.
The work of this Community of Interest is built around a clear ambition: MOBILITY FOR ALL, AUTONOMY FOR ALL THROUGH SHARED AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES, IN RURAL AND SUBURBAN AREAS.
