US and UK most skeptical of autonomous vehicles

This is just one key finding from a report about the future of mobility released by Ipsos, a leading global market research firm. Ipsos surveyed more than 21,000 adults across 28 countries about acceptance of autonomous vehicles (AVs), which autonomous features are most in demand, potential ownership models and regulation options. The study was conducted as part of its What the Future series, which couples survey data and interviews with experts in the field to see what “big questions” companies should be asking themselves about the future of their industries. Despite American tech and automotive companies leading the way in AV development, Americans are among the most reluctant to use it. Those in China, in contrast, are twice as likely to say they “can’t wait” to use AVs than Americans or Canadians. Perhaps the reluctance of Americans to embrace this emerging technology has to do with its strong identity as a car-culture. Nearly six in 10 people consider themselves “car people,” and 81 per cent feel that the car they drive reflects their personality, a least to some degree.  Fifty-eight per cent of global respondents responded to the poll saying they were unsure, but intrigued by the idea of self-driving cars. Comparatively, just 13 per cent said they would never use them and 30 per cent are excited to use the cars and can’t wait to do so. As an new technology, much of the conversation surrounding self-driving cars revolves around regulation. When asked what kind of groups global consumers most trust to write proper self-driving car regulation, the majority of respondents answered that they most trusted those who manufactured the cars (43 per cent). The government was the second most trusted institution with 28 per cent of respondents answering that they trusted the government the most on the issue.