The UK government has announced eight new projects under the latest phase of the CAM Pathfinder programme, marking another step towards the real‑world deployment of autonomous mobility.

This funding round is focused less on experimentation and more on commercial feasibility and operational readiness, with projects designed to operate in near‑commercial environments. For organisations across transport and logistics, it signals how autonomous technologies are moving closer to everyday use.

As autonomous mobility shifts from testing to deployment, transport and logistics organisations are starting to face new commercial and operational questions. These include questions around how risk is managed in practice, particularly where responsibility may be shared across operators, manufacturers and technology providers as systems move into live environments.

This article explores what the latest CAM Pathfinder projects reveal about the UK’s approach to that next phase.

What is the CAM Pathfinder programme?

The £150 million CAM Pathfinder programme supports the rollout of connected and automated mobility (CAM) across the UK. It is delivered by the Department for Business and Trade, in partnership with Innovate UK and Zenzic.

Zenzic was created by government and industry to bring together technology developers, transport operators, policymakers and investors, with the aim of accelerating the safe and scalable adoption of CAM. The Pathfinder programme plays a central role in translating that ambition into practical, industry‑led projects.

Why the Feasibility Studies 2 competition matters

The newly announced projects form part of the Feasibility Studies 2 competition, which focuses on CAM solutions operating in strategic, near‑commercial environments.

Earlier phases of government support demonstrated that autonomous technologies could operate safely in controlled test conditions. Feasibility Studies 2 takes a more pragmatic approach by examining whether those technologies can work in practice within existing transport systems, commercial frameworks and operational constraints.

According to Zenzic, a central aim of this phase is to help organisations overcome barriers to investment decisions, supporting the development of robust business cases that can underpin deployment at scale across the UK.

Which transport use cases are being tested?

The eight projects highlight the range of environments in which autonomy is now being explored and where it could deliver tangible operational benefits.

They include autonomous solutions for:

  • Driverless buses
  • Autonomous HGV operations
  • Airport shuttle services
  • Private hire and on‑demand vehicles
  • Autonomous yard tractors in logistics and freight settings

These use cases combine real‑world complexity with structured operational environments, making them well suited to feasibility testing. They also reflect parts of the transport sector where autonomy could support efficiency, resilience and service continuity.

Innovate UK has described the latest funding round as an opportunity for companies to develop CAM solutions that enable them to scale and grow, rather than remain limited to pilot projects.

What moving from trials to deployment involves

This phase of the CAM Pathfinder programme places a strong emphasis on commercial credibility.

As autonomous systems move closer to deployment, attention extends beyond technical performance. Organisations are increasingly considering how these technologies integrate with existing infrastructure, how they operate day to day, and whether deployment models are commercially viable over the long term.

They are also beginning to explore how risk is managed across increasingly complex supply chains, particularly as organisations balance maintaining existing systems while introducing new autonomous capabilities at pace.

At the same time, although the Autonomous Vehicles Act 2024 provides for certain principles governing liability of autonomous vehicles, certain questions around liability remain unresolved. As autonomous systems move into live operational environments and begin to scale, determining where responsibility sits between operators, manufacturers and technology providers is likely to become more acute.

Deployment at scale will also depend on investment in supporting infrastructure. While necessary to enable real‑world use, this presents additional cost and coordination challenges that will need to be addressed alongside technical and commercial considerations.

Feasibility studies create space to test assumptions around live operational performance, systems integration, cost structures and service outcomes. Addressing these issues early can help reduce uncertainty and support clearer decision‑making about wider rollout.

What the latest CAM Pathfinder projects mean for transport and logistics

The Feasibility Studies 2 projects offer a clear snapshot of how autonomous mobility is developing in the UK.

Commercial readiness is becoming central: Autonomous transport is no longer viewed solely as a future capability. Organisations are beginning to assess where it could fit within existing operations, and how risk and responsibility would be managed in practice.

Defined use cases are leading progress: Momentum is strongest in environments such as logistics hubs, airports and scheduled transport services, where autonomy can operate within clearer parameters.

Collaboration remains essential: Successful deployment continues to rely on coordination between technology providers, operators, infrastructure owners and public bodies.

Investment decisions are moving closer: The focus on feasibility and business cases signals growing interest in solutions that can move beyond trials into live operational settings.

Together, these trends point to a more mature CAM landscape, with increasing focus on delivery in practice.

What this signals about the future of autonomous mobility in the UK

Zenzic has been clear that Feasibility Studies 2 is about taking connected and automated mobility out of test environments and into real‑world settings.

This reflects increased confidence in the underlying technologies, while recognising the complexity involved in moving from trials to operations. At this stage, questions around governance, accountability and long‑term sustainability become increasingly important.

For organisations across the transport sector, the latest CAM Pathfinder announcement reinforces that autonomous mobility is moving steadily closer to operational reality, even if deployment remains targeted and driven by specific use cases.

Michael Carter, Co-Leader Global Tech Sector at Gowling WLG, says:

"These projects represent an exciting and important milestone towards autonomous vehicle adoption that will help to prove the viability of commercial use cases, hopefully stimulating further investment and providing opportunities to iron out teething problems - which will encourage and accelerate the adoption of similar schemes in the future.

CAVs do not exist in a vacuum, they raise multiple cross-sector issues including energy supply and grid management, planning considerations and regulatory and insurance implications. The rollout will have a significant impact on long-established supply chains and operating models.

Gowling WLG helps companies to manage these issues by combining the decades of experience that our cross-practice Automotive team has in advising established automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers with the knowledge and skills of our Tech sector team in managing technology transformation".

What this means for the next phase of autonomous mobility

The latest CAM Pathfinder projects provide a clear indication of how the UK is approaching the next phase of autonomous mobility. By prioritising feasibility and investment readiness, the programme is helping bridge the gap between innovation and deployment.

For transport and logistics organisations, understanding these developments early will be important as autonomy continues to move from testing into live operational settings, bringing with it new considerations around risk, responsibility and infrastructure.

Our Automotive team, working closely with our Tech team, supports organisations in navigating these challenges, from liability and insurance through to supply chain resilience and infrastructure planning, as autonomous technologies move towards deployment. If you are exploring what this shift means for your organisation, we can help you assess the implications and plan next steps.