Consumer confidence with self-driving cars up slightly

J.D. Power has picked up small signs of increased consumer confidence when it comes to fully automated self-driving vehicles.

In its recently released 2024 U.S. Mobility Confidence Index (MCI) Study, the company said the slight uptick comes after a two-year decline. But for this most recent report, the index score for consumer automated vehicle (AV) readiness increased two points to 39 on a 100-point scale, which is where it was in 2022.

“This year’s improvement is minimal because there are still many unmet needs required to boost consumer confidence,” said Lisa Boor, Senior Manager of Auto Benchmarking and Mobility Development at J.D. Power, in a statement. “Repeated and consistent reporting of safety findings over time — with independent oversight — will aid acceptance.”

Addressing persistent concerns about insurance costs and data privacy also are important, she noted.

The index shows progress. However, it does not highlight that the pace with which consumers accept the technology remains relatively flat among the general population, according to J.D. Power. Safety concerns continue to affect consumer confidence.

Eighty-three per cent of consumers want more safety statistics regarding the technology before riding in a fully automated self-driving vehicle. And 86% want the ability to take control of the vehicle if needed. These two issues must be addressed in a way that consumer expectations are met to help boost the public’s confidence.

However, with the overall rise in cyber hacking since the pandemic, data privacy and hacking remain top concerns: 64% of consumers are worried that data collected in the vehicle is not safe and secure, and 80% want to understand what is being done to prevent these vehicles from being hacked.

“Data security and transparency regarding data use are becoming increasingly important as a foundation for building trust in technology and connected digital solutions,” said Bryan Reimer, a research scientist in the AgeLab at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, in a statement. “Trust is built over time but can be quickly eroded.”

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