To Örebro University

While the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International's classification system (J3016) has provided a framework for categorising sustained driving automation systems, concerns have arisen regarding its clarity and ability to incorporate emerging technologies, which ultimately diminishes its value for stakeholders. To address these concerns, we organised a workshop targeting stakeholders, including end-users, vehicle manufacturers/technical experts and policymakers, to understand their needs and perspectives regarding taxonomy usage. The results showed that driving automation taxonomy is communicated through media, incorporated into vehicle purchasing decisions, and utilised for external and internal communication by vehicle manufacturers and policymakers. The discussion highlights that utilising specialised terminology in automation brings convenience and efficiency in communication. However, there is also a discrepancy between the SAE J3016, which is today's prevalent taxonomy, and their audience in terms of both (1) clarity provided by the taxonomy vs. understanding of the stakeholders and (2) topics addressed by the taxonomy vs. needs of the stakeholders. This study underscores the importance of revising and updating the current taxonomy to align with stakeholder needs and technological advancements. By enhancing the clarity and relevance of the driving automation taxonomy, stakeholders can make more informed decisions, fostering innovation and improving communication across the industry.