Autonomous cars are due to contribute €17 trillion to the European economy by 2050, according to Nissan. The figure has been revealed following a comprehensive study on the subject, made up of an independent report by think tank Policy Network.

It found that autonomous vehicles would start adding 0.15 per cent to Europe’s annual growth rate in the coming decades. This would allow the European gross domestic product to rise by 5.3 per cent higher by 2050.

“This independent report highlights that we are in the midst of a social and economic revolution,” Paul Wilcox, chairman of Nissan Europe, said. “It shows that autonomous technology will have a fundamental impact not just on the automotive industry but across European economies and societies and it suggests that leadership within all levels of government is needed.

“At Nissan, we believe for the full benefits of autonomous drive technologies to be realised, governments and municipalities across Europe should review the report’s findings, work hand in hand with the automotive industry, and play a vital role in ushering in this new technological era.”

This statement follows a pan-European study of 6,000 adults, which aimed to see what people identified as the main benefits of autonomous driving.

It found that 58 per cent of those questioned thought that improved mobility was the biggest advantage of autonomous cars. Also, 52 per cent of those asked thought that the biggest positive impact on society with the introduction of autonomous cars would be a reduction in accidents caused by human error.

“What’s clear from the research published today is that is that political decisions makers across Europe need to prioritise autonomous vehicle policies to create a favourable environment that will see this technology flourish,” Wilcox added. “The customers want it, and are starting to see the benefits of an autonomous future, but we need the right legislative environment to enable this exciting new era of mobility to thrive.”

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