The New PAVE Coalition Aims to Educate the Public to Embrace Self-Driving Technology

author: Eric Walz   

LAS VEGAS — Let's face it, most people are wary of self-driving cars, especially being a passenger in one. But with the entire automotive industry today focused on autonomous mobility and services, getting the public to feel comfortable with self-driving cars is a big challenge, especially for automakers who are introducing this technology in their upcoming models.

To help with this effort global automakers including Toyota, tech companies working on autonomous mobility, and other stakeholders have joined together to form a coalition called PAVE, which stands for "partners for automated vehicle education". The coalition launched the first ever campaign to inform the public about the potential of self-driving technology.

PAVE members have one main goal, to inform and educate the public and policymakers on the facts regarding autonomous vehicles, so they can fully participate in shaping the future of transportation. PAVE members believe that in order fully realize the benefits of self-driving vehicles and mobility as a service, the public, as well as policymakers, need factual information about the present and future state of self-driving cars.

In addition to Toyota, PAVE members include automakers Volkswagen, Audi, General Motors and Daimler. The coalition also includes several notable Silicon Valley startups working on autonomous driving. Among them are Cruise, Voyage, Zoox, Aurora and Waymo.

Representatives for several of these companies were at the annual CES in Las Vegas to announce PAVE at a press event hosted by Toyota.

"Traditional automakers and newcomers are investing billions of dollars in the technology that will make automated vehicles possible," said Mark Del Rosso, President, Audi of America at today's event. "PAVE recognizes the need to invest in public information -- in making sure consumers and policymakers understand what's real, what's possible, and what is rumor or speculation."

PAVE will seek to bring realistic, factual information to policymakers and the public so consumers and decision-makers understand the technology, its current state and its future potential, including the benefits in safety, mobility and sustainability.

The group will sponsor hands-on workshops in partnership with SAE International to give consumers the ability to see and experience developing AV technology. It will hold policy workshops in partnership with major academic institutions such as Stanford University's Center for Automotive Research to help policymakers understand AVs and their potential.

PAVE will also produce a website and social media content designed to reach broad audiences with factual, easy to understand information about self-driving cars and their development.

PAVE members will join Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao for a keynote panel, "The New Mobility Revolution: Getting Consumers Ready," on Wednesday, January 9, at CES. Chao is scheduled to deliver the keynote remarks.

Eric Walz

Originally hailing from New Jersey, Eric is a automotive & technology reporter covering the high-tech industry here in Silicon Valley. He has over 15 years of automotive experience and a bachelors degree in computer science. These skills, combined with technical writing and news reporting, allows him to fully understand and identify new and innovative technologies in the auto industry and beyond. He has worked at Uber on self-driving cars and as a technical writer, helping people to understand and work with technology.