LONDON, 9th April, 2026 – Eight studies exploring how autonomous vehicles could benefit businesses and communities across the UK have received funding from a UK Government-backed initiative aimed at accelerating the rollout of commercially viable connected and automated mobility (CAM) solutions in the UK. 

The Feasibility Studies 2 competition, part of the £150million CAM Pathfinder programme, has provided funding to selected projects across the UK, seeking to demonstrate a business case for the deployment of connected and automated mobility (CAM) solutions in strategic, near-commercial environments.  

Among the projects to have received funding is an initiative to establish how self-driving vehicles could boost the aviation sector; how self-driving freight vehicles could lift the nation’s automotive industry and how private-hire automated vehicles could be deployed on London roads. 

The CAM Pathfinder programme – announced in the Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan – aims to grow the UK’s £3.7 billion Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) industry and is being delivered by the Department for Business and Trade, in partnership with Zenzic and Innovate UK

The aim of the Feasibility Studies 2 competition is to support organisations to overcome key barriers to investment decisions in CAM technologies, both in private and public sector environments. Through the studies, organisations will set out to produce the robust business cases that will unlock advanced, at-scale deployments of CAM across the UK.  

The projects include: 

ASPIRE – A study addressing a critical UK mobility challenge: structural driver shortages, rising operational costs, and the need to maintain connectivity while meeting zero-emission mandates. 
Project Partners: Bamford Bus Company, Loughborough University, Queen’s University Belfast 

Develop & Quantify Business Models – A study by Fusion Processing to identify the staff, processes and investments required to deliver operational cost saves and efficiencies at UK airports. 
Project Partners: Fusion Processing 

Private-Hire Services in High-Demand London Corridors – Odysse’s feasibility study for Level-4 automated vehicles (AVs) on private-hire services in high-demand London corridors will explore how emerging self-driving technologies could help shape the future of urban mobility in one of the world’s most dynamic cities. 
Project Partners: Odysse Limited 

North East Vehicle Autonomous Corridor – A feasibility study into the deployment of autonomous electric HGVs on the strategic road freight corridor between the Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK (NMUK) Sunderland Plant and the Port of Tyne.
Project Partners: BCA Automotive Limited, National Highways, Newcastle University, Perform Green, South Tyneside Council, Sunderland City Council 

Sentinel Shuttle – A future-ready feasibility study to unlock safe, scalable driverless shuttle operations across NHS hospital and care estates, enabled by real-time onboard monitoring and remote oversight. 
Project Partners: Moonbility Limited 

TACTIC – A six-month feasibility study led by iC4DTI, with CENEX as partner, to produce an investment-ready business case for a driver-out CAM freight service on the Teesport to Teesside International Airport corridor within the Teesside Freeport. 
Project Partners: International Centre for Trade and Digital Innovation (C.I.C), Cenex  

V-CAL Feasibility Study – Assessing the commercial viability of deploying autonomous yard tractors on the Vantec–Nissan route in Sunderland. This nine-month project builds on the successful outcomes of the 5GCAL and V-CAL initiatives, moving from technical proof-of-concept to a robust business case for full-scale deployment without safety drivers. 
Project Partners: North East Automotive Alliance, Newcastle University, Oxa Autonomy Limited, LOGISTEED UK Limited 

Wellcome Genome Campus – This project will deliver a feasibility study for one of the UK’s first dedicated corridors for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs), linking the Wellcome Genome Campus (WGC) to Whittlesford Parkway railway station in Cambridgeshire. 
Project partners: Wellcome Genome Campus 

 

Mark Cracknell, Programme Director at Zenzic, said: “CAM solutions have the potential to unlock new business opportunities and economic growth in all corners of the country. These feasibility studies will help to articulate the impact that market ready CAM technologies can have on both business productivity and economic growth. 

“We are excited to start working with the organisations delivering each of the eight projects to further develop their businesses cases, demonstrate the commerciality of their solutions and paint a clearer picture of the commercially viable CAM solutions coming down the road.” 

Claire Spooner, Director of Innovation Service at Innovate UK said: “This latest tranche of funding from the CAM Pathfinder programme will enable the UK to unlock the huge future benefits of these new CAM technologies. These projects, around the UK, will develop new solutions for a range of CAM applications and scenarios and they will enable the companies behind these innovations to scale and grow”.  

For more information on Zenzic, visit: https://zenzic.io/ 

CAM Pathfinder Feasibility Studies 2 is part of the UK Government’s £150 million CAM Pathfinder programme, delivered by the Department for Business and Trade in partnership with Zenzic and Innovate UK. All UK Government grant funding is subject to HMG approval.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

 

Project details:

ASPIRE – Autonomous Sustainable Public-transport Innovation and Research Excellence

The project addresses a critical UK mobility challenge: structural driver shortages, rising operational costs, and the need to maintain connectivity while meeting zero-emission mandates. Rather than pursuing immediate full-scale autonomy, ASPIRE adopts a phased, evidence-driven approach delivering measurable operational benefits while de-risking future passenger-carrying autonomy.

Partner organisation(s): Bamford Bus Company, Loughborough University and Queen’s University Belfast.

 

Develop & Quantify Business Models: Movement of Airport Staff Using a mix of AV’s with different seating capacities (Movement of Airport Staff Using a mix of AV’s)

The output of the project will be a detailed business proposal that will identify the staff, processes and investments required at Fusion to deliver the proposal as well as the operational cost saves and efficiencies delivered to the airports.

Partner organisation(s): Fusion Processing

 

Feasibility Study for Level-4 Automated Vehicles on Private-Hire Services in High-Demand London Corridors

Odysse’s feasibility study for Level-4 automated vehicles (AVs) on private-hire services in high-demand London corridors will explore how emerging self-driving technologies could help shape the future of urban mobility in one of the world’s most dynamic cities. The project will examine the technical, commercial, and regulatory foundations required for AV private hire services to operate successfully in London, contributing to a long-term vision of safer streets, cleaner air, and more connected communities.

Partner organisation(s): Odysse Limited

 

North East Vehicle Autonomous Corridor

Our project is a feasibility study into the deployment of autonomous electric HGVs on the strategic road freight corridor between the NMUK Sunderland Plant and the Port of Tyne. This study aims to understand the operating, commercial and legislative requirements in order to produce a business case for the deployment of autonomous electric HGVs to support the existing service that BCA Automotive operates for NMUK. This current service uses a mixture of diesel and electric HGVs to move finished vehicles along fixed routes using the A19, A185, and either the A1290 or A1231.

Partner organisation(s): BCA Automotive Limited, National Highways, Newcastle University, Perform Green, South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council.

 

Sentinel Shuttle: Enabling Driverless Operations through Real-Time Onboard Monitoring

Moonbility, with Alexander Dennis and NHS England, is delivering a nine-month feasibility study to assess how Level 4 driverless electric shuttles can operate safely and commercially on NHS hospital and long-term care estates, using real-time onboard monitoring to enable operation without a safety driver.

Partner organisation(s): Moonbility Limited

 

TACTIC – Teesside Autonomous Corridor for Trade Integration and Clearance

TACTIC is a six-month feasibility study led by iC4DTI, with CENEX as partner, to produce an investment-ready business case for a driver-out CAM freight service on the Teesport to Teesside International Airport corridor within the Teesside Freeport. Teesside’s three large, secure estates; Teesside International Airport (~818 acres), Teesworks (~4,500 acres) and Wilton International (~2,000 acres) let us launch at scale off-highway first, proving the operator model and ROC procedures before extending along the A66 corridor.

Partner organisation(s): International Centre for Digital Trade and Innovation C.I.C and Cenex.

 

V-CAL Feasibility Study

The V-CAL Feasibility Study will assess the commercial viability of deploying autonomous yard tractors on the Vantec–Nissan route in Sunderland. This nine-month project builds on the successful outcomes of the 5GCAL and V-CAL initiatives, moving from technical proof-of-concept to a robust business case for full-scale deployment without safety drivers.

Partner organisation(s): The North East Automotive Alliance, Oxa, Newcastle University and LOGISTEED UK Limited.

 

Wellcome Genome Campus Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) Deployment Study

This project will deliver a feasibility study for one of the UK’s first dedicated corridors for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs), linking the Wellcome Genome Campus (WGC) to Whittlesford Parkway railway station. The study will explore how a fully segregated route can provide safe, efficient, and zero-emission travel for staff and visitors, reducing reliance on private cars and supporting modal shift. Unlike conventional shuttle services, the proposed corridor leverages Wellcome’s unique position as sole landowner of an uninterrupted stretch of land, enabling a controlled environment for autonomous operations without the complexity of mixed traffic.

Partner organisation(s): Wellcome Genome Campus

 

About Zenzic:

Zenzic was established by UK Government and industry to provide a trusted focal point and champion for the UK Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) ecosystem. As a collaborative organisation, Zenzic helps to create alignment, build shared understanding, and ensure that progress in CAM contributes to national priorities.

 

About Innovate UK:

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. Our mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate.