As the deployment of connected and automated
vehicles (CAVs) expands, the need for a consistent,
cross-industry approach to performance relevant CAV data exchange is becoming more pressing.
Vehicle developers, infrastructure owners and operators
(IOOs), and technology providers generate and consume
data that support safety, mobility, and operational efficiency,
yet much of the data remains fragmented, inconsistently
formatted, and difficult to reuse across systems.
To address these gaps, the Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE) and the Canadian Standards Association
(CSA) convened a multi-stakeholder workshop on November
3, 2025, with participants representing original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs), automated driving system (ADS)
developers, state and local agencies, standards bodies, and
technology partners. The workshop focused on identifying
challenges, clarifying needs, and outlining a path toward a
North American CAV Performance Data Standard.
Key themes from the workshop included:
-The need for a shared data language to support safe
and interoperable CAV operations.
-The lack of consistent formatting, labeling and
visibility regarding who produces and consumes data.
-A “start small, iterate and scale” approach beginning
with well-defined use cases.
-The need for technical harmonization and
governance structures that build trust and support
sustained coordination.
This white paper summarizes the key findings and
outlines a practical approach to developing a Version 0.1
base-layer data standard that can support measurable
progress in 2026 and beyond.