Europe is at risk of being left behind in the autonomous driving revolution, Bolt CEO Markus Villig warned on Friday, urging the European Union to invest in self-driving technology with the same intensity it applies to electric vehicles (EVs).
Villig said the EU’s current industrial focus was too narrow, overlooking a transformative technology that will shape the future of mobility and security. “There’s so much on EVs, but we’ve lost the plot on autonomous driving,” he said. “It will be the core technology of the next decade.”
The global race for self-driving cars is currently dominated by U.S. and Chinese firms — including Waymo, Tesla, Baidu, WeRide, and Pony.ai — leaving European automakers struggling to keep pace. Waymo’s upcoming robotaxi launch in London next year underscores Europe’s dependence on foreign innovation.
Villig called for strategic recognition of autonomous tech within EU policy, arguing that local startups need targeted subsidies and exclusive city licences to grow before large international firms corner the market.
He also noted that while the EU is pouring billions into EV manufacturing and battery plants, there is no equivalent investment in autonomous software or systems integration.
Villig was set to meet EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen on Friday to push for stronger support for European-developed self-driving technologies.
