Research Overview

A mobility living lab is a test bed and key tool for open innovation in the connected, automated, shared, and electric (CASE) mobility domain. Living labs enable collaboration between regional governmental authorities, research institutions, and OEMs to develop technologies in a real-life environment best suited for specific local mobility landscapes. Living lab experiments usually take place in a real-life setting, in end-users’ real-world environments, which account for a variety of external situations and test technology solution feasibility developed in real time. The 4P (public-private-people partnership) innovation concept develops synergy between various ecosystem stakeholders and shifts the research focus from an expert-driven towards and user-centric innovation. Such innovations help OEMs and associated stakeholders better understand the commercial viability of their technology, as users provide feedback daily, and thus adapt to an efficient business model.

This study of global automotive living labs provides an overview of the landscape, research themes, developments, and mobility experiments by county and city, including deep-dive analysis of selected living lab activities. Analyzing the operational model of living labs and their advantages, the report discusses product, technology, and services as well as leading automotive innovation themes that are being tested. Frost & Sullivan also explores the OEMs’ innovation and research portfolios, which are expected to shape the future of living lab themes in the automotive sector. From a mobility and transportation standpoint, this study provides an executive look at open innovations happening in the automotive industry.