Commentary

Consumers Skeptical Of Self-Driving Cars

While major automakers and some tech companies continue developing and investing in autonomous vehicles, consumers remain reluctant to jump on board.

A recent study by Ipsos found that if given the choice, only 6% of new car buyers would purchase a fully autonomous vehicle. That study comprised a survey of 20,000 new car buyers from 10 countries.

Consumers also seem to have a low level of confidence about the future of self-driving cars. On a 100-point scale, consumers had an overall score of 36, according to a J.D. Power global study, comprising a survey of 5,800 consumers.

Now comes another study in the U.K.  finding that most people want to continue driving rather than being driven in a self-driving car.

The majority (60%) of consumers say they would always prefer to drive themselves rather than using a self-driving vehicle, according to the study, comprising a survey of 2,000 adults in the U.K. conducted by ICM for the Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Additionally, 66% of consumers said they would be uncomfortable traveling in a driverless car at 70 miles an hour with no human intervention. Nearly a third (32%) of consumers want driverless cars to be restricted to speeds of 30 miles per hour.

The majority (51%) of consumers said they believed humans are better drivers than car computers, 12% said both are equally good and 12% said car computers are better.

Moving self-driving cars forward may become more of a marketing challenge than a technical one.

2 comments about "Consumers Skeptical Of Self-Driving Cars".
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  1. R MARK REASBECK from www.USAonly.US , September 27, 2019 at 6:41 p.m.

    HA HA HA HAHA........Kinda proves what I've been saying.
    NOBODY wants this except tech nerds.
    So let's take the 6% that saod they would buy one.
    So if rhese manufacturers ever announce it adds a ten diget number to the price of the car, plus you-know-its,-coming , the never ending updates and software crashes, not to mention trying to have municipalities synched with these systems.  And the ever present HACKER and randsom thugs.  DEAD BEFORE ARRIVAL folks.

    The board meetings will be hilarious when  the nerds get cornered by the CEO  for this multi,billion epic FAIL.

  2. R MARK REASBECK from www.USAonly.US replied, September 27, 2019 at 6:42 p.m.

    Correction 5 diget number.

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