High ranking for NZ in AV readiness report: KPMG

New Zealand ranks ninth out of 20 countries in a report on the state of autonomous vehicles (AV) preparation.

That’s according to the KPMG 2018 Autonomous Vehicles Readiness Index (AVRI).

The report says AVs are poised to revolutionise not only transportation but the way people live and work.

The AVRI evaluates the preparedness of 20 countries and highlights best practice to help countries accelerate AV adoption. Evaluations are based on policy and legislation, technology and innovation, infrastructure, and consumer acceptance.

New Zealand is second only to Singapore on policy and legislation, with high scores for AV regulation. There is no specific legal requirements for cars to contain drivers here, and our government is generally supportive of the technology, the report notes.

We also have a strong reputation as a technology test-bed, and consumers that are relatively accepting of new technologies.

Lower scores are given on technology and innovation, with no AV company headquarters, patents or investment in New Zealand found in the research. However, EVtalk has covered Auckland-based HMI Technologies’ development of the driverless Ohmio shuttle.

“Low cost mobility provided by AVs will bring benefits in productivity, income and quality of life,” KPMG Deal Advisory director Istvan Csorogi, says. “But it will also bring major challenges, for example in ensuring that AVs are safe, and our roads and cities are built with AVs in mind.

“Infrastructure is a big issue in New Zealand – we need to invest in transport and mobile communications to address some of the issues such as congestion, and to support new technologies like electric vehicles.”

In order, Netherlands, Singapore, the US, Sweden and the United Kingdom are the top five countries that are most ready for AVs. Germany, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates are ahead of New Zealand.

While New Zealand is affluent and large enough to support meaningful product trials, it’s small enough to prevent teething troubles damaging the reputation of a technology or company, KPMG NZ Deal Advisory director Jesse Phillips says.

“Microsoft, Facebook and drone delivery company Flirtey have used it as a development lab. Christchurch has hosted the world’s first fully AV trial (HMI) at an international airport.”

The report introduction notes the pace of AV development is “breath-taking”.

“A year ago, some would have argued that they would never become a reality. But now, AVs are being piloted in a number of countries and are running on public roads. The question is no longer whether but when all road vehicles become fully autonomous.”

It says policy planning needs to start now.

Visit www.kpmg.com/avri for the full 60-page report.