By: Isabella Petrides, ITS America Policy Intern 

Despite widespread adoption of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) globally, the pace and consistency of innovation vary widely across countries and continents. These differences stem largely from how national governments choose to prioritize and invest in their transportation system: some take centralized, direct approaches with significant government intervention, while others rely on decentralized models that empower local and regional authorities and private sector actors. As the needs of mobility evolve and technologies like autonomous vehicles (AVs), vehicle connectivity, artificial intelligence, and integrated data platforms become more ubiquitous, the role of government becomes increasingly pivotal in shaping a safe, efficient, and resilient transportation future. 

Countries such as Singapore, Germany, South Korea, China, and New Zealand utilize a centralized strategy in advancing ITS. Through centralized strategic planning, sustained public investment, and regulation, these governments accelerate innovation, standardize practices, and set out to meet national goals. On the other side of this, the United States maintains a more decentralized model, with state and local transportation agencies often independently planning and deploying ITS projects. This approach offers regional flexibility and encourages public-private collaboration, which uniquely benefits the U.S. as it is a large and geographically diverse country. These collaborations and flexibility have allowed many life-saving advancements in ITS to be researched, developed, and deployed across different regions of the U.S. However, in practice, a more decentralized model may also produce fragmented deployments, inconsistent technical standards, and uneven access to emerging technologies. 

Singapore represents one of the most structured and future-ready ITS ecosystems in the world. With the launch of the Smart Nation initiative in 2014, and its update in 2024 through Smart Nation 2.0¹, the government has made clear its intention to integrate modern technologies across all sectors of daily life, transportation chief among them. Under this umbrella, Singapore initiated policies governing AV testing through CETRAN (Centre of Excellence for Testing & Research of Autonomous Vehicles), expanded on-demand shuttle services, and prioritized open data platforms to improve urban mobility. In October of 2024, Singapore deployed their first commercialized autonomous sanitation project, with the introduction of the WeRide S1 and WeRide S6 Robosweepers for road sweeping in the areas of Esplanade and Marina Coastal Drive. This deployment has been successful in its pursuit of cleaning up Singaporean roads and officials have stated that more advanced pilots will likely occur in the future. Other AV deployments include shuttle services at universities and hotels, as well as AV freight movements. These advancements have all helped to increase productivity and bolster the movement of people, goods, and services. Singapore also utilizes iTransport, which is an intelligent, large-scale traffic and incident monitoring data repository. iTransport²interoperable and is a vital part of their current and future transportation policies and planning. Smart Nation 2.0 was conceived to be a living strategy, intended to evolve with technological change. This centralized approach allows Singapore to ensure interoperability, protect cybersecurity, and maintain fair access to technology from the outset. Currently, the annual growth rate of Singapore’s intelligent transportation system market is ³ the year 2030, their ITS market will reach $2.169 billion USD.⁴ 

Germany’s ITS strategy builds on its historic background in automotive engineering and manufacturing. While recent collaborations with Singapore have emphasized sustainability and innovation⁵, Germany’s domestic efforts focus squarely on regulatory frameworks for AVs, expansion of digital transportation infrastructure, and setting AI safety standards. The federal government plays a decisive role in creating legal certainty around AV deployment, particularly in areas like operational safety, liability, and data protection.⁶ With initiatives released in December of 2024, such as Mobility 4.0, Strategy for Automated and Connected Driving, and Cooperative ITS (C-ITS), all of which promote interconnectivity, strengthen public transportation efficiency, and reduce traffic congestion.⁷ Germany has positioned itself to be a leader in autonomous driving standards and safety⁸ with national investments being directed toward upgrading highways, urban corridors, and logistics hubs with sensors, intelligent traffic management systems, and secure connectivity. Germany recently announced that its’ federally controlled-access highway system, the Autobahn, will integrate a series of technological advancements including, smart road systems, digital signage, augmented reality dashboards, photovoltaic pavements, and enhanced ⁹ response with drones. These transformations¹⁰ ensured that the physical and digital environments work in tandem. At this level of integration and support, it should be no surprise that German ITS markets are ¹¹to reach $4.534 billion in revenue by 2030.¹² 

South Korea has made rapid strides in ITS deployment, particularly in the deployment of V2X technologies. Initial pilots began in 2014 along corridors between Daejeon and Sejong, later expanding to Seoul, Jeju, Ulsan, and Gwangju. C-ITS allows for real-time data exchange among vehicles, pedestrians, and infrastructure, which is a shift from traditional one-way communication models.¹³ This enables proactive traffic and safety management, paving the way for autonomous driving. In 2021, South Korea released its Intelligent Transport System Master Plan 2030, outlining four national goals: building next-generation transport infrastructure, addressing traffic safety blind spots with AI tools, delivering tailored mobility services, and promoting the export of domestic ITS solutions.¹⁴ These objectives reflect South Korea’s dual aim to enhance public safety and grow its economic footprint globally. South Korea’s automotive leader, Hyundai, is poised to introduce Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities, however, the country remains behind in testing more advanced Level 4 technologies. As of January 2022, South Korea’s total autonomous driving mileage reached 447,387 miles through their fleet of 2¹⁵0 vehicles. In contrast, a Chinese robotaxi provider Baidu has logged around 13.05 million miles, while a U.S. private self-driving car company, Waymo, has amassed 19¹⁶million miles of autonomous driving data. As of 2023, the South Korea government has committed to investing¹⁷$2.8 billion USD into ITS, and the ITS market has a projected¹⁸leading to an estimated $5.3 billion in revenue by 2033.¹⁹ 

China’s rapid advancements in transportation infrastructure reflect a broader strategy to assert global leadership in innovation. Through centralized planning, it has expanded its international transport network and signed over 270 bilateral and multilateral transport agreements.²⁰ By 2024, it exceeded several development goals ahead of schedule, including urban rail expansion and rural parcel access. Overall, under their 14^th Five-Year plan, transportation services have become more modern and efficient. As of July 2025, over 160 million tons of goods, 180 million people, and 478 million parcels are dispersed across the country every single day.²¹ Fueled by over a $2.1 trillion investment in transportation, this momentum is rooted in highly centralized governance, regulatory alignment, and scale-driven implementation.²² 

New Zealand’s ITS Strategy 2023–2027 merges innovation with principles of security, equity, sustainability, and economic prosperity.²³ Central to its implementation is the One Network Framework (ONF), a national classification system for land transport that enables consistency in planning and performance measurement.²⁴ ONF redefines roads and streets as not only corridors for vehicle movement, but as shared spaces for people, goods, and diverse transportation modes. It emphasizes integrated multimodal planning and supports long-term strategic investment, local project guidance, and community engagement. New Zealand technology company RUSH has also made strides in the integration of AI into operational safety with the R/VISION platform which trains computers to interpret information provided by Mobile AI Camera Units. This network provides road users and road-side workers with predictive analytics and real-time data, helping to improve safety in roadside corridors.²⁵ The New Zealand Agency Waka Kotahi also recently partnered with Acusensus, a road safety tech company, to position unmanned mobile safety trailers on the roads around New Zealand. These trailers use a software called Heads-Up, an AI-enabled camera which identifies and photographs illegal behavior committed by road users such as distracted driving, failing to wear a seatbelt, or speeding.²⁶ This centralized foundation encourages partnerships which give New Zealand a unified lens through which to assess, coordinate, and optimize its transportation network. 

While centralized governance has proven effective in driving ITS innovation globally, the United States is not without momentum. Numerous lawmakers and federal agencies are working to establish national frameworks that can accelerate ITS development and maintain American leadership in the sector. A key player in this effort is the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO), which contributes vital research and guidance across technologies including AI, AVs, digital infrastructure, V2X, and intersection safety. These initiatives have built public trust, unlocked funding, and advanced innovation. Additionally, funding can look a lot different in the U.S. compared to other countries. Federal investments do exist, primarily in the forms of competitive and formula grant funding programs, loan financing programs, state-level funds,²⁷ Each U.S. state has the ability to adjust or prioritize different technologies within their individual transportation plan, but it is up to the State transportation leaders to dictate which technologies they are prioritizing. This gives the states a lot of flexibility to address the needs of their communities first, helping to bolster and increase safety in the areas that they deem need the most. Still, progress remains constrained by the fragmentation inherent in the U.S. system, where decentralized decision-making can hinder nationwide cohesion, scalability, interoperable data sharing, and technical standardization. However, the new U.S. Department of Transportation ²⁸Agenda was released, which is focused on innovation, safety, and commercial deployment of AVs. This plan may be that push towards a nationalized framework and standardization of innovative technology, but the implementation of this effort may take some time. 

As global mobility evolves, the success of ITS relies not only on the rapid deployment of technological advancements, but on how governments decide to interact, invest, collaborate, and encourage. Singapore is a leader in AV deployment and urban mobility integration, with successful pilots across their small and incredibly urbanized city-state. South Korea emphasizes AI-enhanced safety and exportable ITS solutions, although its testing and ability to keep up in technological advancements may fall behind in comparison to other global competitors. China is uniquely able to leverage the scale of innovation and centralized investment, but their governing system allows them rigid control over their citizens and property. New Zealand has shown its competency in blending innovation with equity and safety, but the size and breadth of which they are able to do so is limited. As shown, other countries with master plans and frameworks help to align country’s goals with evolving technologies. These plans prioritize data interoperability, cybersecurity, economic growth, and public safety at the forefront. They recognize that public-private collaboration is essential, and how strategic, long-term planning can yield successful results. When looking at how a more cohesive national approach can be effective in accelerating innovation, however, fast-tracking projects, and promoting standardization, it is important to recognize the drawbacks as well. An overcentralized system may risk stifling local innovation. Countries with strict top-down models may overlook critical regional needs or community-driven solutions. Additionally, rapid deployment without strict regulation can compromise safety, it is imperative that testing and rollouts of ITS are balanced with legal frameworks that protect the public. Cybersecurity is also paramount, as ITS systems become more interconnected, safeguarding digital infrastructure and personal data must remain a top priority. 

Despite the challenges posed by its decentralized transportation system, the United States has a monumental opportunity to lead in the evolution of Intelligent Transportation Systems. The U.S.’s regional flexibility, robust private sector, and unique local needs have fostered innovation at the grassroots level, laying the groundwork necessary for future scalable solutions. With the renewed federal interest, strategic funding initiatives, and the support for national innovation priorities, the U.S. has the ideal mechanisms to unify these fragmented efforts into a cohesive, forward-thinking framework. We should also consider how federal surface transportation policy provides potential to reinforce transportation innovations and strategically invest in ITS. By leveraging its technological leadership, empowering its state and local entities, and bolstering its engagement with public-private partnerships, the U.S. will transform its transportation sector, not only resolidifying its position as the global leader in ITS, but setting the new standard for safe and efficient mobility.