NACTO Feasibility Study AV Rating System

Cities are on the front lines of autonomous vehicle deployment, yet they currently lack a trusted, independent way to evaluate how AV and robotaxi operators perform on the outcomes cities care about most: safety, accessibility, equity, sustainability, and public trust. As private companies rapidly scale services for commercial gain, local governments remain responsible for managing streets and protecting the public interest, often with limited data and limited leverage. The absence of a standardized, transparency accountability framework makes it difficult for cities to compare operators, reward strong performance, or intervene when services fall short, risking misalignment between public goals and private operations.

Method

Cityfi served as the lead strategy and research partner for this Phase 1 feasibility study, helping define whether and how an AV ratings system could provide utility to cities to help meet their goals and outcomes. Cityfi conducted extensive research across adjacent industries, engaged more than 30 stakeholders, including cities, states, airports, insurers, consumer advocates, investors, and AV companies, and tested the regulatory, market, and reputational levers available to cities under varying governance and preemption scenarios. Drawing conclusions from this work, Cityfi designed a viable, consumer-focused ratings framework grounded in city outcomes, and developed a roadmap for how a pilot-ready concept could be generated that integrates independent data sources, rider experience, and real-world testing to assess operator performance credibly and at scale.

The study confirmed strong cross-sector demand for a standardized AV ratings system and identified an actionable path forward. Cityfi delivered a compelling case for a consumer-centered model that uses transparency and market pressure as a form of soft regulation, giving cities influence even where direct authority is limited. The final product provides a practical blueprint for governance, funding, operations, and pilot implementation, equipping cities with a tool to strengthen accountability, build public trust, and ensure autonomous mobility delivers safer, more equitable outcomes.

Project Information

Client: National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) and Bloomberg Philanthropies

Location: National