22 AFTERMARKET FEBRUARY 2024 TECHNICAL/AFTERMARKET OF THE FUTURE www.aftermarketonline.net April start for new selfdriving race series A highlight of the Gitex tech conference in Dubai was the unveiling of the 185mph Dallara Super Formula SF23 self-driving race car, to be used in the new Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL). 10 rival teams with cars from the legendary Italian manufacturer will take to the grid for the first time on 28 April at the Yas Marina Circuit, competing for a tasty £1.85m prize pot. The eye-catching launch video promised “To push the boundaries of what is possible. To compete on speed, on reaction, on agility. Not just to master the perfect lap, but to redefine it.” A2RL says it has brought together teams of scientists, coders and developers from around the world with the aim of reshaping the future of mobility through extreme sports – to stress-test autonomous vehicles on the racetrack for safety on our roads. Tom McCarthy, Executive Director of Aspire, the organisation behind the project, explained: “We believe that if consumers gain confidence then we will see cutting-edge research, such as that being undertaken here in Abu Dhabi, taking its place in production cars sooner rather than later.” As Sir Stirling Moss told me once (apologies for the name drop!), autosport has always played a vital role in developing new technologies. UK fleet management specialist Venson Automotive Solutions has published a new white paper, The Journey Towards Full Driving Automation, to help businesses keep track of the latest developments in self-driving. With multiple new technologies now very close to market-ready, and the legislative framework taking shape, Venson is urging fleet managers to future-proof the sector for selfdriving, just as they are doing with electric vehicles (EVs). An important part of this is recognising that, along with the promise of an improved environment for vulnerable road users, decreased traffic volumes, improved safety and more shared mobility, there will be new duties and obligations for those with responsibility for mobility within organisations. For example, to obtain a No User-in-Charge (NUIC) operator licence, companies will need to meet certain requirements, including being ‘of good repute’ and having ‘appropriate financial standing’. When it comes to insurance, again, it will be imperative for both fleet managers and drivers to have a full and clear understanding of the vehicle’s limitations. The paper therefore highlights the 2023 Communications Toolkit developed by the Automated Vehicle Driver Responsibility in Vehicle Education group (AV- DRIVE), featuring important inputs by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The C in connected and automated mobility (CAM) will also bring many benefits, not least the massive safety gains facilitated by having realtime warnings about potential hazards. Simon Staton, Client Management Director at Venson, said: “CAM will have a significant impact on fleet managers and only by horizon-scanning, adapting and developing the fleet management role will UK businesses and vulnerable road users be able to benefit from it. “Just as the fleet industry is taking the reins and steering electrification in the UK, the importance of the fleet manager cannot be understated as we journey towards full driving automation. “As fleets juggle lagging service, maintenance and repair (SMR), and elastic lead times on new vehicles, CAM may seem too far into the future. However, driving learning and continuous professional development on CAM is fundamentally important to our ability to steer development of the fleet function. “Whether it is keeping tabs on UK self-driving regulation, the impact of CAM on the Highway Code, or how connectivity, already enabling remote diagnostics, will empower prognostics – the ability to fix things before they go wrong – it is up to us as a sector to keep one step ahead.” Fleet operators will be in the vanguard of safe self-driving Neil Kennett looks at cutting-edge auto tech coming to a workshop near you soon AFTERMARKET OF THE FUTURE A commentator on the UK aftermarket since before Concorde was grounded, Neil is Editor of Carsofthefuture.co.uk, providing news and views about driverless vehicles, and Director of Communications at Selfdrivingpr.com, experts in automotive/autonomous media and public relations
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