The SAE levels of automation are the industry's shared language for self-driving technology — but most people, including many professionals, misuse them. In this episode, Dr. Henriette Cornet sits down with Dr. Steve Shladover, one of the world's foremost experts on vehicle automation and a key contributor to the SAE J3016 standard itself, to set the record straight.

We break down all five levels of driving automation — what they actually mean, where the boundaries are, and why terms like "Level 2+" and "Full Self-Driving" are more marketing than reality. Steve also explains why Level 3 is a difficult bet, why trucking may be the most compelling Level 4 application, and why you should never say "autonomous" when you mean "automated."

Whether you're new to the field or a seasoned AV professional, this episode will sharpen how you talk and think about vehicle automation.

What you'll learn:

• The correct definition of each SAE level of automation (1–5)
• Why the levels apply to features, not vehicles
• What the Operational Design Domain (ODD) is and why it matters as much as the level number
• Why Level 2+ is not a real standard — and what it actually means
• Where Tesla really sits in the automation spectrum
• Why Level 5 was defined but is considered practically unachievable
• The difference between "autonomous" and "automated" — and why it matters

Guest: Steve Shladover is a research engineer at the University of California, Berkeley, and one of the longest-serving researchers in vehicle automation. He has contributed to both SAE and ISO standards, co-chaired the Transportation Research Board's automated driving workshops, and advises California regulators on AV policy.

About Urban Innovate Talks: Hosted by Dr. Henriette Cornet, founder of Urban Innovate — an advisory, training, and research firm specializing in autonomous vehicles and sustainable urban mobility. Each episode brings you direct access to the experts shaping the future of how cities move.

Explore our AV training programs and consulting services: https://urban-innovate.com/

This episode explores how cities and transit agencies can prepare for autonomous vehicles, focusing on deployment strategies, infrastructure, safety, governance, and scaling. William Levassor from BETI shares insights on technology, costs, procurement, and operational management to help stakeholders navigate the transition to autonomous mobility.
Hosted by Dr. Henriette Cornet, CEO & founder of Urban Innovate.

Visit Urban Innovate to discover how we support cities and transit agencies on AV readiness and operate at the intersection of autonomous vehicles, public transport, and urban policy, with hands-on experience in research, deployments, regulation, and large-scale pilots across Europe, the U.S., and Asia.

Key topics
Deployment strategies for autonomous vehicles
Infrastructure and digital requirements
Cost and procurement considerations

Sound bites
"Don't go directly to vehicle providers."
"AVs can attract new ridership."
"Road infrastructure impacts AV safety."

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Autonomous Vehicles in Transit
01:12 AV Readiness: Preparing Cities and Transit Agencies
04:39 Understanding Service Needs for AV Deployment
08:28 Cost Considerations and Budgeting for AV Services
13:02 Evaluating Cost Savings and ROI in AV Implementation
15:47 The Future of Mobility Services and Job Shifts
20:30 Integrating Control Centers with Autonomous Vehicles
24:03 Integrating Autonomous Vehicle Services
25:23 Infrastructure Challenges for Autonomous Vehicles
26:12 Monitoring and Safety in Autonomous Vehicle Operations
31:14 Dashboard Insights for Clients
35:25 Scaling Autonomous Vehicle Services
37:40 Future of Autonomous Vehicle Procurement

Resources
Contact William Levassor
Contact Henriette Cornet
Ruter's Request for information (RFI) - Shared Autonomous On-Demand Mobility in the Oslo Region

In this episode, Dr. Henriette Cornet talks to William Levassor from beti. Togehter, they discuss if Autonomous Vehicles may (or may not) 'kill' public transit. William shares insights on autonomous vehicles, and together they debunk common myths, and explore their impact on public transit. They discuss technology, regulation, public perception, and future scenarios for AV deployment.

Keywords
autonomous vehicles, public transit, public transportation, robotaxi, regulation, technology, future mobility, public perception, AV deployment, digitalization, urban mobility

Key topics

• Impact of autonomous vehicles on public transit
• Public perception and misconceptions about AVs
• Regulatory and operational challenges in AV deployment
• Opportunities for AVs to improve urban mobility
• Future scenarios for AV integration in cities

Sound bites
"AVs will be useful in low-density and suburban areas."
"Immediacy is a key expectation in modern mobility."

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Autonomous Vehicles and Their Impact
05:07 Public Perception and Misconceptions of AVs
10:49 Differentiating Technology and Service in AVs
17:55 Opportunities for Public Transit Improvement
19:33 Weaknesses of Public Transit in Europe and the US
24:33 The Need for Immediacy in Public Transportation
27:08 The Evolution of Public Transit and Technology
30:00 Opportunities for Autonomous Vehicles in Public Transit
36:06 Depot Management and Automation
41:22 The Future of Public Transit vs. Ride-Hailing Services
47:56 Optimizing Public Transit with Private Partnerships

Resources
Urban Innovate - https://urban-innovate.com/
beti - http://www.navette-autonome.fr
wsp & CapMetro YARD program in Austin on bus depot automation - https://www.wsp.com/en-us/projects/ca...

Speakers links
https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-levassor/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/henriette-cornet/