Self-driving tech? What do consumers want?
While many tech companies seem to be leading the way in terms of self-driving tech, many consumers would prefer trusted auto manufacturers as the producers.
With companies like Uber and Google rapidly developing self-driving tech, where do traditional car manufacturers fit in?
More than half of consumers around the world seem to be open to adopting self-driving tech, but it seems that their preference is against tech companies as the producers.
A survey by The World Economic Forum and The Boston Consulting Group found that:
- 60% of consumers in cities were ready to embrace self-driving tech. However, only 16% of people would trust a tech company as the provider of the vehicle.
- 46% of consumers said they would prefer traditional automakers to lead the development and piloting of self-driving tech in vehicles.
- 69% of people would be more trusting of self-driving tech, when both tech companies and automakers were involved in the production.
So it seems like consumers want cars created by the traditional auto manufacturers, but the software systems created by these tech companies. Which in all honesty makes perfect sense, let each do what they’re good at!
In September, Google cofounder Sergey Brin, stated that is exactly the direction that they are heading in. Rather looking for industry partners as opposed to focusing on building its own cars.
Apple seem to be going in the opposite direction, opting to produce its own car and software. The first model is expected to launch in 2019, however it will not be completely autonomous, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Apple haven’t actually confirmed any plans regarding building its own car, but they have had meetings with agency officials the California DMV in order to discuss state regulations for testing on public roads.
Source: Business Insider