The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) is to replace the brand formerly known as the Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets. The trade association represents companies developing autonomous vehicle (AV) technology that improves safety and enhances mobility. It claims that the new brand showcases the evolution of both the AV industry and the organization’s role with policymakers and the public.
AVIA represents a cross-section of the world’s technology, automotive, trucking, delivery and rideshare companies. Established in 2016 by founding members Ford, Lyft, Uber, Volvo Cars and Waymo, it was the first advocacy organization dedicated exclusively to AVs. The association has matured from a narrowly focused coalition to a trade association that engages with federal, state and local policymakers while representing the breadth of the large, diverse and expanding AV industry. In five years, it has tripled its membership, reinforced its role as the unified voice of the AV industry and significantly increased engagement with lawmakers and regulators.
“Autonomous vehicles offer significant opportunities to improve road safety as well as transform mobility, boost supply chains, create jobs, increase equity and reduce emissions. The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association remains the foremost voice on the policies needed to make AV benefits a reality for Americans,” said the organization’s general counsel, Ariel Wolf.
The new name aligns with the members’ commitment to precision and consistency in how the industry, policymakers, journalists and the public talk about autonomous driving technology. To boost consumer trust and understanding, the association recently called on all stakeholders to clearly distinguish between AVs and vehicles with driver-assistance systems. AVIA advocates for autonomous vehicles, which perform the entire driving task. AVs do not require human operators, not even to serve as backup drivers; the people or packages in the vehicle are just passengers or freight.