ECAVA, the alliance for connected and smart vehicles, is born
In September 2025, the European Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Alliance (ECAVA) was officially launched, a new industry forum bringing together manufacturers, suppliers, technology companies, startups, and research centers across the entire European automotive supply chain. The aim is to coordinate and accelerate the development of connected and autonomous vehicles, strengthening Europe’s competitiveness in an increasingly strategic global market.
The European Commission is taking on the role of facilitator, while Member States and the Commission itself are participating as observers, ensuring consistency with EU policies.
The alliance’s activities focus on key areas such as software-defined vehicles, advanced electronic architectures, and the use of artificial intelligence to support automation and on-board decision-making processes.
The development of pilot tests and trials necessary to validate technologies before their large-scale deployment will also be central.
ECAVA was created as an open platform: companies, associations, and research organizations can join and participate in working groups, contributing to the definition of common standards and shared trajectories.
The ambition is to build an integrated industrial ecosystem capable of competing with the United States and China, overcoming the fragmentation that has often slowed European innovation.
Autonomous driving is no longer an exclusively experimental field. It is a concrete lever for improving road safety, optimizing traffic flows, and reducing emissions through more efficient and predictive management of transport networks.
Estimates indicate that by 2030, connected and automated vehicles could generate up to €300 billion in economic value, involving sectors such as telecommunications, infrastructure, software, and data analysis.
The challenge, however, is not only technological. The ability to harmonize regulations, guarantee data security, and ensure a positive impact in terms of employment, inclusion, and social acceptance will be decisive.
In this context, cities will take on a central role as open-air laboratories, where the interaction between vehicles, infrastructure, and road users can be tested through cooperative systems, advanced sensors, and data sharing platforms.
With ECAVA, Europe is taking a step towards a shared vision of autonomous mobility, in which industrial innovation and sustainability go hand in hand.
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