For most of time, driverless cars sounded like something from a futuristic film, however the future is here and most consumers aren’t so keen on the idea.
Less than a fifth (17%) of US consumers believe self-driving cars will be safer than human drivers, according to research by Mintel.
Additionally, 28% believe that self-driving cars will reduce the number of fatal crashes.
While reclaiming time otherwise spent on a commute might seem like an appealing option, only one quarter (26%) of Americans believe everyday commuting will be more enjoyable with self-driving technology.
“Whether consumers believe in it or not, the future of mobility will focus on self-driving transit,” says Automotive Analyst at Mintel, Hannah Keshishian.
“Once these innovations become widely available; consumers can be expected initially to be hesitant to embrace these changes in mobility. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that consumers will eventually adapt and become acclimated to these changes.”
Mintel research shows that automobile safety features in the US are grossly underutilised: all advanced safety measures failed to capture consumer usage rates over 50%.
“Consumers have been extremely vocal about their desire for increased vehicle safety, so it’s somewhat surprising that most car buyers whose vehicles are equipped with advanced safety features aren’t widely utilising them.
“Automakers and dealerships, more specifically, will need to ensure that car buyers are being given proper training and education around how to use their advanced safety features not just on the day of purchase but on the test drive as well,” concludes Ms Keshishian.
