July 30, 2019—Consumers lack confidence in the future of self-driving vehicles and battery-electric vehicles that automakers are bringing to the market in the next several years.
The Mobility Confidence Index is 36 out of 100 for self-driving vehicles and 55 out of 100 for battery-electric vehicles, according to the J.D. Power Mobility Confidence Index Study. J.D. Power paired with SurveyMonkey to conduct the study in which 5,749 consumers were polled about self-driving vehicles and 5,270 about battery-electric vehicles.
Scoring lowest regarding self-driving attributes are comfort about riding in an autonomous vehicle and comfort about being on the road with others in a self-driving vehicle.
Industry experts recognize the importance of marketing self-driving technology to consumers to build understanding, trust and acceptance. Although consumers are more hopeful than worried (65 percent vs. 34 percent) about the overall benefit of technology in their lives, 39 percent aren't excited about any self-driving technology, including delivery services, public transit, taxi/ride-hailing service and personal vehicles.
Serious concerns exist with the development of self-driving vehicles, of which consumers are most worried about tech failures/errors (71 percent); risk of vehicles being hacked (57 percent); and legal liability as a result of a collision (55 percent).
