HAMPSHIRE, UK – The annual sales of fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the US will reach 5 million by 2026, says Juniper Research. The global market will account for 20 million new AVs sold during the same year.

The market adoption of AV technologies is set to ramp up in the future, driven by competition from the likes of Google, whose focus has been on entirely driverless vehicles; heavy investments from Volvo, Audi, Daimler and GM, positioning themselves as mobility services firms; governments enabling firms to test AVs on the road and invest in smart city infrastructure; drivers becoming accustomed to ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems).

Ranked no. 1, Google is further ahead than traditional manufacturers in terms of technology and miles tested, says the research firm. Waymo is set to be integrated into smart city strategies for public transportation and could license its expertise to other OEMs, threatening the role of the Tier 1 suppliers.

Juniper estimates 45 million on-road vehicles will have some form of ADAS functionality by the end of 2018, with adoption reaching 100 million by 2020. Additionally, with luxury vehicles incorporating semi-autonomous technologies, such as the new Audi A8, the market will further evolve to full automation, while shifting its focus to delivering a complete driver experience.

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