Study Finds More Than Half Of Vehicle Owners Think Self-Driving Cars Are A "Good Idea"

Wednesday, 13 September 2017 12:20

Study Finds More Than Half Of Vehicle Owners Think Self-Driving Cars Are A "Good Idea"

TUSTIN, Calif., Sept. 12, 2017 -- In a recently released study about autonomous vehicles, automotive marketing consulting firm AutoPacific found that 54% of vehicle owners think that self-driving vehicles are a "good idea" and 23% are interested in owning one. The study contains results from over 900 vehicle owners who were asked about various aspects of self-driving vehicles, and also explores consumer opinions, expectations and the role of semi-autonomous features. "The automobile is moving toward increasingly autonomous technology, from lane departure warning systems to cars that can completely drive themselves," says AutoPacific president George Peterson. "AutoPacific set out to explore consumer opinions to help auto manufacturers navigate the best path to maximum customer acceptance."

Consumers interested in autonomy find the ability to relax or be more productive during their drive appealing, yet are also interested in being able to be in a more comfortable seating position. Interest, however, doesn't come without concerns. Rejectors and acceptors alike share concerns over vehicle hacking and still want the ability to take over controls if needed.

The Road to Acceptance
According to the study, consumers who reject autonomous vehicles do so mainly because they are uncomfortable not being in control of the vehicle and have concerns over reliability. While there will be early adopters of the technology, many vehicle buyers will wait until they see more market penetration, read reviews, hear from friends, and see safety statistics. "Consumers want proof," says Peterson. "Many consumers like to see technology in action to know that it's tested and proven. They read reviews. They pay attention to ratings. They want to know that a self-driving vehicle is reliable and safe." 70% of autonomous vehicle rejectors say proven technology is needed for them to reconsider their interest and 38% say their consideration would increase if self-driving cars prove to be safer for all drivers, occupants and pedestrians.

The Role of Autonomous Features
The continued implementation of autonomous features in vehicles of all types will also play a role in increasing consumer confidence and interest in fully autonomous vehicles. AutoPacific's study finds that acceptors of autonomous vehicles are more likely to currently have autonomous features, such as active lane keep assist and forward collision intervention, on their vehicle. "The incremental roll-out of autonomous driving through feature implementation is essential to its success," says Daniel Hall, vice president at AutoPacific. "Many who reject the idea are rejecting full autonomy, yet consumer interest in autonomous features, such as collision intervention and automatic parking is high, even for rejectors of full autonomy."

Changing the Vehicle Ownership Model
The AutoPacific study also looks at consumer acceptance of a self-driving vehicle service - similar to Uber or Lyft, but one that would pick them up on demand in an autonomous vehicle. Results show that 19% of vehicle owners would be interested in using a self-driving vehicle service – just 4% pts less than the interest in owning a self-driving vehicle. Consumers interested in a self-driving vehicle service are mainly influenced by the ability to get to their destination despite limitations due to age, disability or impairment. While interested consumers are not yet willing to completely give up vehicle ownership for a reliable self-driving vehicle service, the potential future change to the ownership model is interesting. "Services like Uber and Lyft have already opened the door for hiring rather than owning a vehicle," says Hall. "If the future also offers a reliable, self-driving vehicle service, we may see a significant change in the traditional ownership model," says Hall.

About AutoPacific
AutoPacific is a future-oriented automotive marketing research and product-consulting firm. Every year AutoPacific publishes a wide variety of syndicated studies on the automotive industry. The firm, founded in 1986, also conducts extensive proprietary research and consulting for auto manufacturers, distributors, marketers and suppliers worldwide. Company headquarters and its state-of-the-art automotive research facility are in Tustin, California, with an affiliate office in the Detroit area. Additional information can be found on AutoPacific's websites: http://www.autopacific.com and http://vehiclevoice.com/