US actually has a considerably competitive advantage in that their roads (especially in cities) are so much easier to navigate than in Europe.

"Autonomous" vehicles are SO far away from navigating European cities. Picked a few random locations (all two-way roads by the way, often with pedestrian and bicycle traffic). It's probably 30 years out when a car can drive these:

* Lausanne, Switzerland: https://www.google.no/maps/@46.4767732,6.8289361,3a,75y,254....

* Polignano, Italy https://www.google.no/maps/@40.9957993,17.22086,3a,75y,347.9... (driven this one myself, and remember thinking that it would be close to impossible for an autonomous vehicle)

* Paris, France https://www.google.no/maps/@48.8660537,2.4074756,3a,75y,48.6... (one way)

* Zagreb, Crotia https://www.google.no/maps/@45.8222709,15.9280256,3a,75y,320...