Commentary

84% Of Americans See The Car As Essential To Getting Around

As various business entities ranging from traditional automaker to tech companies pursue the development and deployment of fully autonomous vehicles, consumers remain attached to their cars.

The majority (84%) of U.S. consumers see the car as essential to getting around, based on a new study.

The majority (66%) of American and European consumers also would not trust an autonomous vehicle, according to the study, comprising a survey of 10,000 adults in the U.S., U.K., China, Germany and France conducted by OC&C Strategy Consultants.

Even if their car could drive itself, 88% of U.S. consumers would still want their exclusive car rather than having access to a pool of robotaxis.

Most (65%) Americans see the car as an important part of growing up.

American millennials also are car focused, with 73% seeing the car as essential to getting around and 53% seeing it as a status symbol.

Electric and hybrid vehicle consideration was found to be low, with 19% seeing themselves as likely to consider one the next time they replace their vehicle.

Even in the home of Uber and Waymo, 70% would not trust autonomous vehicles, the highest in the survey.

For most consumers, self-driving cars are further down the road than those creating them might think.

4 comments about "84% Of Americans See The Car As Essential To Getting Around".
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  1. R MARK REASBECK from www.USAonly.US , December 11, 2019 at 9:38 p.m.

    Best, most accurate story ever posted here,  Chuck.  Been saying all of the above for quite a while.  But I'm going with 90+% won't have a Ghost driver car.

    Even if their car could drive itself, 88% of U.S. consumers would still want their exclusive car rather than having access to a pool of robotaxis.
    .................
    I believe we have a winner!!!

  2. Chuck Martin from Chuck Martin replied, December 11, 2019 at 9:55 p.m.

    Thanks, Mark. Long way to go for consumer acceptance.

  3. Ed Papazian from Media Dynamics Inc, December 12, 2019 at 12:50 p.m.

    I wonder how many of the 16% who don't think having a car is essential for getting around have cars ---or drivers licenses? Or, maybe, they all use hired-by-the-day limos when they go shopping or visiting?

  4. Chuck Martin from Chuck Martin replied, December 12, 2019 at 1:10 p.m.

    Good questions, Ed. Of the 16%, 7% disageed about having a car and the other 9% were in the category of "neither agree nor disagree"

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