Developing a Regulatory Framework for Autonomous Vehicles: A Proximal Analysis of European Approach and Its Application to ASEAN Countries

Autonomous vehicles (AV), a new innovative product of the automobile industry designed on the basis of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, thereby capable of operating without direct human control, are believed to be the future of transportation. Hence, as with most great technology, the development of AVs would eventually be limited if regulatory changes are not implemented on time. ASEAN, one of the world’s leading emerging automobile markets, has accepted the arrival of AVs and allowed the automobile producers to introduce autonomous and semi-autonomous cars for the customers. However, most ASEAN countries, with the exception of Singapore, have yet to enact regulations governing AVs. They are facing a number of challenges in determining the legal status of AVs, thereby creating certain restrictions for establishing the platform for production, sales and uses of this AI-driven product. This article will analyse the legal framework on AVs of four ASEAN countries—Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. It then attempts to assess the regulatory approaches toward the development of a legal framework for AVs in Germany, France, and the Netherlands, to suggest some effective solutions for ASEAN.