driverei

Driverei is a term used in design research and policy discussions to describe the integrated system of autonomous driving technologies, services, and governance that shapes contemporary mobility. It emphasizes the interaction of vehicles, infrastructure, data, and institutions in forming mobility flows and user experiences.

Etymology and usage: Driverei is a neologism that appears in academic and industry discourse in the 2010s and 2020s, with no single canonical definition. It is used to discuss how technical systems such as autonomous vehicles, routing algorithms, and sensors interact with business models (for example, mobility as a service), urban policy, and social norms.

Components: The concept encompasses hardware (sensors, vehicle platforms), software (AI, perception, decision-making), data ecosystems (telemetry, cloud services, cybersecurity), infrastructure (charging networks, roads, signaling), services (ride-hailing, car-sharing, fleet management), and governance (standards, liability, privacy, ethics, regulatory frameworks).

Implications and debates: Driverei is often examined for its impact on urban form, labor markets, and equity. Concerns include safety and reliability, cybersecurity and privacy, data ownership, surveillance, and environmental effects. Proponents emphasize efficiency, accessibility, and new mobility options, while critics warn against overreliance on centralized platforms and the risk of digital fragmentation or governance gaps.

See also: autonomous vehicle, intelligent transportation systems, mobility as a service, smart city.