Join the global dialogue on automated driving

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Experts and consumers alike will have the opportunity to discuss all technical, legal and social aspects of future mobility on 2025AD.com, helping to build consumer acceptance and trust on the topic. The website offers manufacturer-independent information, easy to understand graphics and exciting facts about automated driving.

Neutral, public access

"Now the future of automated driving has a neutral, public address," said Dr Elmar Degenhart, chairman of the executive board at Continental. "In our opinion, the success of automated driving depends heavily on the public. They must accept the basic concept and trust the technology used that will make the mobility of the future safer, more efficient, and more comfortable. That's why Continental is launching 2025AD.com as a long-term initiative aimed at building trust for everyone. This is a public, neutral website that processes information and news on the topic of automated driving in a transparent way, quickly making it accessible and also inviting all stakeholders to a public discussion."

Continental launched this new initiative and website during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. During the demonstration of 2025AD.com, the website highlighted key facts on a number of important topics related to automated driving technology. The website also features international guest authors sharing their respective views in interesting contributions. A multimedia timeline on the site clarifies when we can expect to see which functions and which technologies are already being used in serial production today. Additionally, 2025AD.com will report on the newest developments of automated driving on its own site, as well as invite to conversations on other social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Facilitating dialogue

"Continental is expecting intensive dialogue with partners from industry, politics, and society, from science and research, and last but not least with users of modern mobility," said Dr Felix Gress, head of corporate communications at Continental. "With 2025AD.com, Continental is supporting the necessary dialogue about the mobility of the future in real time, so to speak. We provide a space for controversial and productive public discussions. This means we can all work together to define future conditions for automated driving in a more appropriate and reliable way."

The platform 2025AD.com, which is directed at an international audience and presented in the English language, takes its name from the automotive industry's primary development goal for automated driving. From 2025 onwards, fully automated driving should be possible on highways from the entrance ramp to the exit ramp. Automated driving will give drivers time to do other things during their journey. In addition to the highway scenario, Continental is working on technology for automated parking maneuvers and is planning systems for automating city driving. Continental believes that the possibility for developing fully-automated driving from door to door will extend well beyond 2025.

Challenges for automated driving

"In view of current conditions, automated driving from door to door will be possible beginning in about 2030. However, if it is not only the car that adjusts to the city, but also the city that adjusts to automated driving, for example by providing separate lanes for automated driving vehicles, then earlier availability could be possible. Additionally, for consumers who fear losing their freedom as a driver with all this automation, there will always be an off switch," Degenhart said.

Continental is developing the components and systems needed for automated driving worldwide. To do so, engineers are tackling six key challenges at once: sensor technology, cluster connectivity, human-machine dialogue, system architecture, reliability, and the acceptance of automated driving. The 2025AD.com social web platform represents a company pillar for customer-oriented development of automated driving functions and their wider acceptance.