In a spirited speech during Italian Tech Week in Turin, Ursula von der Leyen reignited Europe’s ambitions for smart mobility, calling for a bold, continent-wide commitment to AI-driven cars.
Her message was clear — Europe can’t afford to trail behind while the U.S. and China redefine the future of transportation.
She proposed building a network of European “AI mobility cities” to test autonomous vehicles in real-world conditions, with over 60 Italian mayors already expressing interest, as detailed in her announcement at Italian Tech Week.
Von der Leyen’s tone was part optimism, part rallying cry. “Self-driving cars are already a reality in the United States and China.
The same should be true here in Europe,” she emphasized, framing AI not just as a technological tool but as a strategic asset for industrial sovereignty.
Her stance comes amid a broader EU effort to strengthen its digital and mobility sectors through upcoming legislation and funding programs, including a proposed €50 billion boost for AI innovation aimed at reducing dependency on non-European technologies, a move covered by recent developments from Brussels.
It’s not just about cars — it’s about economic independence. Europe’s automotive sector has long been a pillar of its industrial strength, but it’s now under siege from global EV giants and software-first companies.
Von der Leyen’s proposal seeks to unite that fractured landscape, urging collaboration across governments, automakers, and tech firms.
Her idea of “AI made in Europe, for European streets” strikes at the heart of this digital sovereignty battle, one that is also being reshaped by China’s rapidly expanding presence in self-driving technology, as shown in emerging initiatives reported through global automotive tech coverage.
Beyond the steering wheel, Von der Leyen also touched on entrepreneurship and regulation. She unveiled plans for a unified EU startup framework, dubbed the “28th regime,” which would simplify scaling across borders and eliminate the bureaucratic roadblocks that often stifle European innovation.
Her remarks, shared in detail during her policy outline on startup growth, highlight that the EU is looking to make innovation frictionless for founders and investors alike, as detailed in the latest economic address.
But let’s not ignore the elephant in the garage: public trust. Europe’s citizens remain skeptical of fully autonomous technology.
A European Commission survey from 2024 found that 61% of respondents were concerned about data privacy and accountability in self-driving systems.
People aren’t just afraid of losing control of the wheel — they’re worried about losing control of their information. That tension lies at the heart of the European debate: how much autonomy is too much?
It’s worth remembering that the EU’s regulatory instincts run deep. Just last year, policymakers introduced the EU AI Act, the world’s first major framework to govern AI safety and ethics.
It may serve as both a safeguard and a speed bump in deploying AI-powered vehicles. Some industry leaders fear it could slow innovation, while others say it will ensure that “AI doesn’t outpace human judgment.”
This is where Von der Leyen’s challenge becomes clear — balance vision with vigilance.
There’s also a quieter revolution underway in the automotive data space. Companies like Bosch and Continental are experimenting with real-time analytics to train adaptive driving systems that learn from European road data, rather than imported models built for American or Asian cities.
These efforts could give Europe a homegrown edge, combining data ethics with design precision.
From a geopolitical angle, Von der Leyen’s call might be as much about strategy as mobility. With China making heavy investments in AI-powered infrastructure and the U.S. pushing forward on both autonomous fleets and AI chips, the EU’s competitive gap is widening.
If Europe doesn’t accelerate now, it risks becoming a follower in the most transformative industrial shift since electrification.
Her plan to foster AI mobility cities might be the first step toward that acceleration — but execution will be everything.
It’s one thing to announce a vision in Turin; it’s another to get autonomous cars safely navigating the streets of Paris, Prague, or Warsaw.
Infrastructure, interoperability, and public confidence will determine whether Europe’s dream of AI-driven roads becomes a reality or remains another PowerPoint promise.
Still, there’s something undeniably stirring about this moment. For the first time in years, the EU’s AI narrative isn’t just about regulation or ethics.
It’s about imagination — about re-engineering Europe’s identity through technology. And if Von der Leyen’s optimism holds, this could be the beginning of a new European era, one where innovation doesn’t just catch up, but leads.
