The Evolution And Future Of Autonomous Mobility In India

Radha Basu May 13, 2022

The ability to move freely and relocate as individuals and communities has been an important characteristic of human evolution. From primitive ways of travelling, civilization has come a long way in innovating mobility. Today, disruption is the common thread running through the global mobility landscape. Automation, digitization and newer ways of travel are revolutionizing businesses and society. The Indian automotive industry is also experiencing the effects of this global disruption.

Key trends in India

While mobility is progressing with technological innovations, public consciousness is also impacting traditional mobility to evolve into sustainable means. India is witnessing a shift in mobility trends with more and more consumers expressing interest in electrified and hybrid vehicles, as per Deloitte's Global Automotive Consumer Study 2022. According to the study, more than a third of Indian consumers have expressed an interest in such vehicles, with India’s focus being on environment-friendly, self-manufactured and sustainable solutions post-pandemic.

With an ever-growing population and developing cities and towns, there is an increasing demand for shared mobility. Increasing demand for last-mile commutes, delivery services and e-commerce are the major drivers of this. With consumer demand on the rise, the use of commercial vehicles is higher than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated the demand for commercial vehicles to procure and deliver essential goods across the country.

While the demand for mobility is high, there are other innovations impacting the sector. Spurred by the experience of the pandemic, the adoption of connectivity features has been the key. This is shaping not only personal mobility but also commercial vehicles, especially in the agriculture and infrastructure sectors to provide ease of business, safety and faster logistical processing.

Autonomous Mobility

Newer technologies, which began with internet connectivity, are now exploring artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithm-led systems to drive innovations. Today, innovations such as self-driving cars and drones are revolutionizing the mobility sector.

In 2017, Mahindra & Mahindra showcased its first-ever driverless tractor, making it a pioneer in the sector. The tractor aims to increase food production in response to growing food scarcity. It is a good example of an autonomous mobility innovation that could solve several challenges faced by farmers and allied sectors.

In 2021, NewSpace Research & Technologies (NRT) and SpiceXpress, a cargo division of Spicejet, signed MoU to develop the ‘SpiceXpress’ drone delivery service. NRT planned to develop an HL-150 UAV that can carry a 150-kg payload over 150 km, along with a fleet of drones with different payloads, which can revolutionize supply chains. Such innovations can empower India to facilitate food supply to famine-impacted regions, deliver life-saving drugs and essential goods to remote regions that are otherwise difficult to access.

Challenges for Autonomous Mobility

The west is already exploring autonomous mobility and testing driverless cars, while in India that is still a distant objective. This is because India needs policy decisions that support the reduction of costs related to infrastructure, logistics, and research and development. Other factors that hinder India’s journey are the complex environments of cities, which could pose safety hazards. Further, the negative impact on employment is also a roadblock.

The Opportunity

Although fully automated vehicles may be a distant dream for India, the market has witnessed some levels of automation. There is a massive opportunity in India in the current scenario that calls for smarter solutions, especially for transport and logistics. Recent disruptions by start-ups point positively towards India’s autonomous mobility ecosystem and its future.

For instance, Tata Elxsi created AutonomAI to accelerate programs for autonomous vehicles (AV) and Intel decided to gather data on traffic patterns to create algorithms for autonomous driving in India and overseas. Similarly, several AV startups such as Swaayatt (2015), AutoNxt (2016), Ati Motors and Flux Auto (2017), Flo Mobility (2019) and Minus Zero (2020) have emerged in the last few years. This offers a glimpse into the future application of autonomous technologies.

The Indian automotive sector has taken the first step towards an autonomous future. In 2020, the Indian market embraced MG Motor’s Gloster, the country’s first autonomous (Level 1) premium SUV with the Advanced Driver Assistance System. Such vehicles use AI and advanced logistics technologies to offer a safe and efficient auto-driving experience.

The future demands cleaner, quicker and more efficient transport, which is safe and viable for the environment and which can be made possible by developing and adopting autonomous mobility.