Solihull Council and the SCALE consortium are proud to announce that the pioneering Solihull & Coventry Automated Links Evolution (SCALE) project has won the Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Award at the prestigious CiTTi Awards 2025.
The award recognises groundbreaking advancements in connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technologies that transform urban mobility by improving safety, integration, and public acceptance. SCALE was selected ahead of other shortlisted projects from DPD, Greater Cambridge Partnership, and Oxa, underscoring its role as a national leader in future mobility innovation.
SCALE is a collaborative initiative aimed at demonstrating real world Level 4 autonomous shuttle services along a high demand corridor at the strategically significant UK Central Hub, home to the NEC and forthcoming HS2 Interchange station.
As one of six Commercialising CAM: Deployment projects across the UK, SCALE is part of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT)’s support to the development and growth of the UK Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) sector and was funded by UK Government.
Led by Solihull Council, the SCALE consortium brings together expertise from Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick Coventry University, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), Ohmio, the NEC, Coventry City Council, IPG, and dRISK.
From March 2024 to July 2025, three Ohmio Lift autonomous shuttles operated across the busy NEC campus, establishing a first of its kind passenger service. Following its success, SCALE recently secured additional DBT funding to deliver project enhancements.
SCALE 2, which began in July this year, is extending the SCALE route, crossing the busy Bickenhill Parkway roundabout to connect Birmingham International rail station with Birmingham Business Park, which hosts up to 10,000 visitors a day.
The CiTTi Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Award celebrates projects that deliver measurable safety outcomes, reduce emissions, alleviate congestion, and integrate seamlessly into urban transport networks. SCALE’s success reflects its unique partnership model and ambitious scope, positioning it as the UK’s flagship CAV demonstration and a benchmark for global urban mobility standards.
Councillor Andy Mackiewicz, Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Planning, said:
“Winning this award is a testament to the collaborative spirit and innovation driving SCALE. I would like to thank everyone involved in the project. Autonomous Vehicle technology is no longer a distant prospect, it is coming, and it will fundamentally reshape the way people and goods move through our towns and cities. Pioneering projects like SCALE are vital because they allow us to get ahead of both the challenges and the massive opportunities this technology presents.
“By deploying autonomous shuttles in real world environments, we are vastly improving our understanding of how CAM can integrate safely and seamlessly into existing transport networks.
“SCALE demonstrates that with the right partnerships, evidence driven approaches, and community engagement, the West Midlands can lead the way in shaping the future of transport. This will be a driver for economic growth in the region and in the long term provide long term solutions.
Mark Cracknell, Programme Director at Zenzic, said:
“SCALE exemplifies how government, industry, and academia can come together to deliver real world demonstrations that test the technical capabilities of Connected and Automated Mobility, while also building the public confidence and operational evidence needed for wider deployment.
“Zenzic is proud to support projects like SCALE that accelerate the UK’s journey towards the rollout of CAM technologies in safe, sustainable, and commercially viable transport services.”
Commercialising CAM, and the CAM Pathfinder Programme, are part of the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy and the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, and are delivered by DBT’s Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) team, in partnership with Innovate UK and Zenzic.