AUTOMOBIL CLUB ASSISTENCIA SA

Their core work

ACASA is the roadside assistance and mobility services arm of the Spanish automobile club (RACC group), based in Barcelona. In H2020 projects, they contribute real-world driver behavior data, field testing infrastructure, and end-user perspectives on intelligent transport systems, automated driving, and road safety. Their practical role bridges the gap between laboratory research and actual road conditions, providing access to a large member base of drivers and operational experience in mobility services across Spain.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), ACASA focused heavily on driver monitoring and assistance — detecting impairment, drowsiness, and inattention through adaptive ADAS and human-machine interfaces, alongside C-ITS infrastructure deployment. From 2019 onward, the focus shifted toward automated vehicle user acceptance, emissions-aware driving behavior, open data initiatives, and large-scale connected automated driving demonstrations. This reflects a clear trajectory from "helping drivers drive better" to "preparing users for a future where vehicles drive themselves."

ACASA is moving toward connected automated driving pilots and user behavior research, making them a strong partner for projects needing real-world testing with actual drivers and road users.

How they like to work

ACASA exclusively operates as a consortium partner — never as coordinator — joining large, multi-country projects typically with 15–25 partners. With 261 unique partners across 29 countries from just 12 projects, they connect into very broad European consortia rather than working in tight, repeated clusters. This makes them an accessible, low-friction partner that integrates well into large collaborative efforts without seeking to lead them.

Extensive European network spanning 261 unique consortium partners across 29 countries, built through participation in large-scale transport and ITS projects. Their Barcelona base and automobile club membership give them strong connections across Southern and Western European mobility ecosystems.

What sets them apart

Unlike universities or tech companies in the transport domain, ACASA brings the automobile club perspective — direct access to millions of everyday drivers and real operational data from roadside assistance and mobility services. They are one of few organizations that can provide genuine end-user validation and field testing at scale for automated driving, ADAS, and ITS technologies. For consortium builders, they fill the critical "user-side validation" gap that technical partners cannot cover alone.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ADASANDME
  Their largest-funded project (EUR 175,000) and most thematically central — adaptive driver assistance for impaired, drowsy, or stressed drivers, directly aligned with their automobile club mission.
• BRAVE
  Highest single EC contribution (EUR 212,500) focused on bridging gaps for automated vehicle adoption, positioning ACASA at the forefront of the autonomous driving transition.
• Hi-Drive
  Their most recent involvement (2021–2025) as third party in one of Europe's flagship connected automated driving demonstration projects, signaling their continued relevance in next-generation mobility.