Study: Consumers More Aware—and More Leery—of Autonomous Cars

The more aware consumers become of self-driving car technologies the less likely they are to want to buy or ride in a fully autonomous vehicle, according to a survey by Cox Automotive Inc.

Nearly half (49%) of the respondents said they would never buy a Level 5 fully autonomous vehicle. This compares with 30% of those queried in a similar Cox study two years ago.

This year’s study finds more than four in five people want the option to drive themselves in future self-driving cars. Less than one in five say they would be comfortable riding in a fully autonomous car that didn’t have backup manual controls.

But consumers are more open to semi-autonomous safety-related features. Cox says preferences have shifted from Level 4-type vehicles in 2016 to currently available Level 2 systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and collision avoidance systems. About half of this year’s respondents say such technologies make people better drivers.

Cox attributes the change in views from two years ago to increased familiarity with autonomous vehicles and a better understanding of the complexities involved in enabling technologies. Recent high-profile accidents involving vehicles employing semi-autonomous systems also contribute.

Three-fourths of respondents believe fully autonomous vehicles need real-world testing to be perfected. But 54% don’t want such testing to take place in their own cities.

Cox owns a variety of car-buying-related services, including Autotrader, Dealer.com and Kelley Blue Book. The company also is expanding into new mobility schemes with a new business unit that sells software and services to car-sharing and ride-hailing companies, vehicle subscription programs and robo-taxi fleets.