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Blees > Uncategorized > news > Advancing Autonomous Driving in 2025 / Predictions for the New Year
15 January 2025

Advancing Autonomous Driving in 2025 / Predictions for the New Year

The global race to lead in autonomous driving is in full swing. Will the new year bring us closer to a complete transformation in the way we travel? What key developments in autonomous driving can we expect in 2025 across Europe and the United States? Dive into our insights and predictions for the next 12 months.

Innovation in the U.S. Autonomous Driving Landscape

Elon Musk has announced that Tesla will begin testing a fully autonomous robotaxi at SAE Level 5 in 2025. This year, the company’s autonomous vehicles are set to undergo extensive public road testing, with their competitive edge relying on advanced communication with other vehicles and the surrounding environment. Meanwhile, Waymo, part of the Alphabet holding giant, plans to expand its operations to 10 cities across the U.S. The company has already surpassed an astonishing milestone of 1 million miles driven weekly. Zoox, backed by Amazon, aims to fully commercialize its robotaxi after two years of testing on California and Nevada roads, making them available to residents in select U.S. cities.

Who Will Dominate the Race?

In the U.S., Waymo and Tesla remain the undisputed leaders in autonomous driving. However, in Europe, it is unlikely that any self-driving vehicles at SAE Level 4 autonomy will achieve regulatory approval in 2025. It’s important to note that the European market differs significantly from the U.S. In Europe, the focus is on public transport vehicles that address urban needs, while in the U.S., autonomous taxis attract more interest from individual consumers, reflecting deeper cultural roots.

Nevertheless, legislative challenges—which are still taking shape, including in Poland (as discussed below)—may slow development in Europe. These evolving regulations present new demands for manufacturers and are reshaping the framework for operating in this sector.

The European market for autonomous technology providers is characterized by a relatively uniform level of technical advancement across companies. A critical step toward furthering autonomy on the continent is the acceleration of pilot program deployments. These initiatives play a pivotal role in promoting innovative solutions and bringing us closer to realizing the vision of future transportation.

EasyMile and Navya have led the way in Europe with the highest number of deployments, having developed their systems for over a decade. However, the pace of new implementations, particularly in passenger transport, has stabilized. In response, new players like Auve Tech and Blees are entering the market, offering increasingly innovative and appealing solutions.

The development of these technologies is supported by EU funding programs, such as CCAM, which facilitate international collaboration through projects like ULTIMO, MOBILITIES FOR EU, and metaCCAZE. These initiatives focus on large-scale testing involving multiple vehicles simultaneously, representing a significant step forward for autonomous transport in Europe.

Market Education as a Catalyst for Change

Global trends clearly indicate that the development of autonomous vehicles must go hand in hand with education and fostering public acceptance. According to the UK report Connected & Automated Mobility 2025, it is essential to design these technologies with user needs in mind, remove barriers to transportation access, and build public trust.

At the same time, data shows that 83% of the public still harbors concerns about autonomous driving, highlighting the ongoing need for educational initiatives to increase social approval and acceptance.

At Blees, we understand that the key to success lies in balancing innovation with social responsibility. That’s why our efforts focus not only on advancing technology and designing autonomous minibuses but also on pilot deployments, engaging in dialogue with end-users, and understanding their needs and concerns—both in Poland and in international markets.

We firmly believe that the future of transportation depends on consistent education and transparency. Our goal is not only to familiarize society with the concept of autonomous driving but also to create a product that meets real user needs and earns their full trust. Together, we’re building a bridge between cutting-edge technology and its acceptance in everyday life.

In 2025, we plan to expand our pilot programs domestically and, for the first time, launch them internationally.

Which Technologies Will Drive the Advancement of Autonomy?

In software, it comes as no surprise that the technological significance of artificial intelligence will continue to grow exponentially in 2025. This widespread development will also extend to autonomous buses, with increasing focus on technologies like end-to-end (E2E) algorithms and large language models (LLMs) in the context of autonomous driving.

On the hardware side, we see a continued trend among manufacturers toward downsizing their products. This is particularly evident in key technologies such as LiDAR. Across the board, hardware is becoming more compact, more accessible, and better adapted to the stringent requirements of the automotive industry. At the same time, these smaller devices are capable of identifying a growing number of obstacles. Additionally, LiDAR systems are now able to detect road lines and are incorporating features once exclusive to cameras.

In the coming years—possibly as early as 2025—the biggest breakthrough is likely to be the optimization of vehicle perception and communication systems, significantly enhancing their reliability.
Łukasz Wójcik, CTO, Blees

Legislation as the Foundation for Progress in Europe

The advancement of autonomous vehicles is impossible without the proper adaptation of regulations and infrastructure. This technology’s development requires close collaboration between the private sector, government, and local administrations.

Key challenges include establishing legal frameworks that allow autonomous vehicles to be tested on public roads and investing in infrastructure capable of meeting the needs of these vehicles, such as developing digital traffic management systems and standardizing communication protocols.

Examples of such initiatives across Europe demonstrate that advanced technological solutions go hand in hand with a responsible approach to road safety. Poland faces the ambitious task of catching up in this area to align with broader European progress.

In 2025, we anticipate significant efforts to unify regulations supporting the integration of autonomous vehicles on public roads. According to the United Nations’ plan, the finalization of global legal frameworks for autonomous technologies, including safety standards and interoperability, is scheduled for mid-2026. Additionally, 2025 is expected to bring the release of key interpretative documents related to the approval of autonomous driving systems, such as new guidelines on remote supervision and testing scenarios for autonomous vehicles. Harmonizing implementation requirements across member states remains a top priority to ensure the safe and consistent adoption of these technologies throughout the European Union.

Tomasz Wierzchowski, CQO, Blees

Germany is advancing legislation on remote vehicle operation, with autonomous shuttle buses set to begin testing in Hamburg in 2025. The introduction of autonomous technologies aims not only to improve road safety—where human error accounts for 90% of accidents—but also to enhance the efficiency of public transportation.

With efficient automated urban transit, fewer private cars will enter the centers of major cities, resulting in more space for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as a significant reduction in emissions.

Is Polish Legislation Still Lagging Behind Innovation?

In Poland, a legislative proposal aimed at advancing road automation is expected to be submitted to the Council of Ministers in the first quarter of 2025. The regulations are set to take effect six months after their adoption.

As of the publication of this article, consultations on the proposed legal amendments have concluded. Blees has provided a range of feedback on the currently proposed changes, emphasizing areas for improvement.

Facilitating meaningful testing of ground-up autonomous vehicle projects—which have been conducted several times in Poland and are part of hundreds of similar initiatives across Europe—requires addressing specific regulatory hurdles. One critical step is to allow exemptions from the requirements outlined in Article 66 of the Polish Road Traffic Act (PRD), which sets standards for mechanical vehicles. Many of these provisions do not align with the unique characteristics of autonomous vehicles. Financial considerations are also crucial, as proposed regulations include fees for test approvals and penalties for potential violations. These penalties significantly exceed current fines for drivers. Moreover, numerous ambiguous provisions introduce interpretative uncertainties, complicating the process for stakeholders involved in autonomous vehicle development and testing.

Mikołaj Kwiatkowski, BDM, Blees

Despite the challenges, we firmly believe that 2025 will bring groundbreaking advancements for both global and Polish autonomy. We’re rooting for the achievement of new milestones—not only at Blees but also among our competitors. After all, we’re all on the same autonomous journey, striving toward a future of smarter, more sustainable transportation.

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Paweł Koziołek
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    Mikołaj Kwiatkowski
    Business Development
    Manager
    +48 790 302 803

    Szymon Lewandowski
    Business Development
    Specialist
    +48 576 667 740