Consumers Hardly Enthusiastic About Self-Driving Cars

Advertisers interested in utilizing self-driving cars as a channel to reach consumers may have a longer wait than they thought.

Among general uncertainty about connected and self-driving cars, very few consumers say they want to purchase one, according to a new study.

The study, comprising a survey of more than 3,000 car drivers, was conducted by Klashwerks and found that fewer than half (38%) of drivers said they would ride in a self-driving car.

Almost as many (37%) said they are unsure about riding in one.

The market appears to still be in its early stages as well, with almost half (45%) of drivers saying they need more information about self-driving cars before making any decision and only 5% said they plan to buy one as soon as possible.

Here is the breakdown of sentiment toward self-driving cars:

  • 45% -- I need more information about them before making a decision
  • 19% -- They’re cool, but would never buy one
  • 18% -- They are terrifying
  • 12% -- Mostly just hype, won’t see them for a long time
  • 5% -- Plan to buy one as soon as possible
  • 2% -- Have never heard of them

In addition to differing attitudes toward self-driving cars, general awareness of the terms associated with the various levels of autonomous vehicles seems to be somewhat fragmented.

For example, three quarters (75%) said they are familiar with self-driving car as a term, but that number drops to about a third (35%) for autonomous vehicle and fewer than a quarter (23%) for connected car.

There also may be a lack of effective messaging in the market about what the terms mean, especially with the term ‘connected.’

Fewer than a third (27%) said they don’t know if their vehicle is capable of being connected, but more than a third (35%) said their car has Wi-Fi hotspot integration, roadside assistance service, car-app connection or other Internet-based service capabilities, according to the study.

 

4 comments about "Consumers Hardly Enthusiastic About Self-Driving Cars".
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  1. R MARK REASBECK from www.USAonly.US , March 13, 2017 at 10:15 a.m.

    No Shock here. "Dumbest idea of the 21st Century".  So much effort into an idea just to see if they can do it.   Most of America that doesn't live in a congested city, (NYC, Boston, Philly) don't want this.   I have friends of all ages. I know NO ONE  who would have an interest in these cars, much less buying one.  The only one's excited are the tech-lenmings.
    The price this adds to a car is NEVER mentioned, and as I continue to harp;  You are going to entrust the lives of your loved ones to a cluster of plastic curcuit boards, made overseas, and the key being a $10 sensor that can be knocked off sight lines by hitting a pothole?
    And how about the 80,000 pound  semi next to you that is "unmanned" ?
    Insurance, responsibilty, and hackers make this a D.O.A. scenario.

  2. R MARK REASBECK from www.USAonly.US , March 13, 2017 at 10:18 a.m.

    My ideal "connected" car is that the battery cables are in place, that allows me to start the casr, drive it and have the electric windows, cruise control and rado work without involving  my lettuce crisper in my home refrigerator.

  3. Douglas Ferguson from College of Charleston, March 13, 2017 at 6:58 p.m.

    Drivers need not actually desire such cars, as long as the insurance industry and the government get behind their success. Would you be willing to pay a hefty surcharge on your car insurance for the privilege of driving without asssitance? These innovations have a way of sneaking up on people. The 2017 models have "driver assist" for braking and lane drifting; as people become accustomed to lower insurance rates, it'll be a short jump to driverless safe cars. I can remember when people said they'd never ever use a seatbelt or pay extra for an airbag. Resistance is futile.

  4. R MARK REASBECK from www.USAonly.US replied, March 13, 2017 at 9:18 p.m.

    Douglas, good points, but I think the insurance industry will dump this when they have a backlog of accidents that are defaulted to the insurance company because "fault" will be hard to prove.   Hackers will have a field day with this mess, simply "because they can"
    because this was developed just "because we can".  You'll have to pry  my non air-bag steering wheel  out of my cold dead hands.

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