Kapsch’s Executive Vice President Europe, the Middle East and Africa has called for a rethink of regulation across Europe to help the continent realise its potential in transport technology.
Carolin Treichl (pictured) was speaking at the Austria Connect UK 2026 meeting in Central London and told the audience: “Whenever you need a traffic light controller and a protocol to ensure interoperability between the traffic light control and the traffic centre, you have to apply different systems in different countries. There is a difference between the Nordics, Spain and Germany. Regulation is very important, but it should be made easier.”
The event, called “Driving the Tech Dividend” is looking at how companies can harness the latest technology, and Mrs Treich said Austria-based Kapsch proves that: “Innovation is ongoing in Europe” however she warned that, more widely businesses across Europe “have to become more self-confident and promote what our strengths are.”
She told the audience the importance of transport technology, saying: “Whenever you have to pay a toll or whenever you’re facing, like in London, a clean air zone, it’s all about ensuring there is smart mobility, less congestion, and also ensuring that the public sector has additional funding to refinance infrastructure,” and added that she doesn’t spend that much time in London because the UK-based team is “so efficient”.
She also had a clear message around the first planned pay-per-mile vehicle excise duty in the UK, which is planned to be introduced on electric and hybrid vehicles. “We are a bit pushing against it, I have to say, because, from technological perspective, there are smarter solutions and fairer solutions.” A further meeting about more sophisticated, technology-based, per-mile vehicle tax solutions will be held in Parliament later in the month.
“I’m delighted that Carolin sent a signal of the importance Kapsch’s UK operations by coming to London for this important meeting, and was proud that she said such nice things about the team here,” added Tim Wray, Kapsch’s Sales Director for UK and Ireland. “Kapsch is growing fast here – investing in Connected Vehicle technology to support the work of the Department for Transport’s Connected Vehicle Services Framework, we’re involved in the ULEZ system in London which has delivered measurable benefits to Londoners in terms of air quality and are currently involved in several high-profile tenders to increase their UK footprint.”
Asked what is in the pipeline, he teased by saying: “We’ve been contracted to deliver some advanced traffic management systems which I can promise is a huge win for us. It’s not something I can disclose today, but I will let you know more in the next couple of weeks.”
(Picture – Highways News)
