Integrating Autonomous Mobility into the Transport System: A Saudi Arabian Case Study

The report addresses the gap between autonomous vehicle (AV) pilot projects and full-scale deployment, proposing a structured four-step framework: regulatory sandbox development, pilot selection, pilot implementation, and scaling. It highlights the economic potential of AVs, projected by McKinsey to generate $300 to $400 billion in annual revenue by 2035. Using Saudi Arabia as a case study, the document details how the kingdom's Vision 2030, National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), and Autonomous Mobility Strategy (AMS) leverage a multistakeholder ecosystem—including the Transport General Authority (TGA) and the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services (MoTLS)—to foster innovation through controlled testing environments and aligned regulatory standards.

• Autonomous driving is projected to have a significant economic impact, with annual revenue potentially reaching between $300 and $400 billion by 2035.
• The transition from pilot projects to full deployment is often hindered by fragmented regulatory landscapes, a tendency for technological novelty to overshadow policy goals, and a lack of mechanisms to systematically adopt learnings across deployments.
• The proposed four-step framework to accelerate autonomous mobility consists of: (1) regulatory sandbox development, (2) pilot selection, (3) pilot implementation, and (4) scaling.
• Saudi Arabia's strategy for autonomous mobility is integrated into Vision 2030, specifically through the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) and the Autonomous Mobility Strategy (AMS), aiming for economic diversification, urban development, safety, and technological leadership.
• In Saudi Arabia, the Transport General Authority (TGA) manages the regulatory sandbox and licensing, while the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services (MoTLS) oversees the physical or virtual testing environments.
• Pilot selection in the Saudi Arabian context is based on five key criteria: streamlining regulatory environments, enhancing safety and liability frameworks, establishing data and security measures, advancing technology readiness, and increasing public trust.

APA

World Economic Forum (2024). Integrating Autonomous Mobility into the Transport System: A Saudi Arabian Case Study. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Integrating_Autonomous_Mobility_into_the_Transport_System_2024.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Integrating Autonomous Mobility into the Transport System: A Saudi Arabian Case Study. 2024. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Integrating_Autonomous_Mobility_into_the_Transport_System_2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Integrating Autonomous Mobility into the Transport System: A Saudi Arabian Case Study |date=August 2024 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Integrating_Autonomous_Mobility_into_the_Transport_System_2024.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2024integrating, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Integrating Autonomous Mobility into the Transport System: A Saudi Arabian Case Study}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2024}, month = aug, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Integrating_Autonomous_Mobility_into_the_Transport_System_2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }