European truck industry gears up for platooning by 2023

Europe’s truck manufacturers have revealed a detailed timeline of steps leading up to the introduction of convoys of semi-automated trucks on Europe’s motorways before 2025, with the publication of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) report EU Roadmap for Truck Platooning. This also provides guidance to policy makers and authorities on the regulatory changes and political support necessary for cross-border truck platooning. Truck platooning is the linking of two or more trucks in convo
May 19, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Europe’s truck manufacturers have revealed a detailed timeline of steps leading up to the introduction of convoys of semi-automated trucks on Europe’s motorways before 2025, with the publication of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (6175 ACEA) report EU Roadmap for Truck Platooning. This also provides guidance to policy makers and authorities on the regulatory changes and political support necessary for cross-border truck platooning.


Truck platooning is the linking of two or more trucks in convoy, using state-of-the-art connectivity technology and driving support systems. The truck at the head of the platoon acts as the leader, with the vehicles behind reacting and adapting to changes in its movement, requiring little or no action from drivers. The first real-life tests with truck platooning are already underway.

The roadmap provides an overview of the steps that are necessary to implement multi-brand platooning by 2023.

While manufacturers are already exploring the business case for truck platooning with the logistics sector, ACEA says certain conditions need to be met before 2023 are beyond the control of the truck industry, including strengthening cooperation between all stakeholders and policy-makers in particular.

At the same time, it will be imperative to get political support for promoting the wide-spread introduction of platooning. Governments should, for example, introduce incentives, such as toll and tax reductions, CO2 bonuses or flexibility in driving time, to stimulate the market uptake of truck platooning.

Location Based Systems

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Cop27: 'Act now' on transport
    November 18, 2022
    Ertico, IRF Geneva and Asecap are among organisations calling for change to meet 2050 goals
    Read More
  • A new beginning for travel information, based on users' needs
    February 3, 2012
    Despite its name, the EU's forthcoming SUNSET project could represent a new beginning for travel information services. Here, Susan Grant-Muller and Frances Hodgson from the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds detail a project which is intended to exert a greater influence on network users' travel habits
    Read More
  • EU cooperation using ‘intelligent transport’ can cut CO2, says IRU
    February 17, 2017
    Decarbonisation of commercial road transport and logistics should be linked to safety improvements and efficiency gains if the ambitious EU CO2 emissions reduction targets are to be met, according to a major new report on the future of commercial road transport in the EU, published by world transport organisation IRU. The report, Commercial Vehicle of the Future, claims measures to decarbonise road freight transport could provide new opportunities to further improve road safety and optimise operational e
    Read More
  • Intersection management, cooperative infrastructures - what next?
    February 1, 2012
    What do recent vehicle recalls mean for future cooperative infrastructures? Anthony Smith takes a look. As ITS industry stakeholders converge on Amsterdam for the 2010 Cooperative Mobility Showcase, an unprecedentedly wide range of technologies will be on display demonstrating what might be achievable in the future from innovations based on Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communications.
    Read More

Highlighted Content