MENU
SEARCHSurvey finds slight upward shift in readiness, but consumer acceptance of the technology is essentially flat after accidents, data compromises.
The vast majority of survey respondents, or 83%, said they’d require more reassurance of its safety via statistics before they’d try it.
Pexels/Esmihel Muhammad
Consumers, still wary of fully automated vehicles, are showing very slight positive movement in their view of the technology.
After consumer confidence in such vehicles fell two straight years, an annual J.D. Power survey shows a two-point increase in automated vehicle readiness to a still-low 39 on a 100-point scale.
The survey of 3,000 U.S. vehicle owners was conducted in August.
J.D. Power observed that the shift in direction, though, still reflects a general population with lackluster confidence in the technology, which has stirred wariness due to news of accidents that happened while vehicles were driving themselves, among other incidents.
The vast majority of survey respondents, or 83%, said they’d require more reassurance of its safety via statistics before they’d try it, while 86% said they’d require the ability to take control of an automated vehicle if circumstances called for it.
“Repeated and consistent reporting of safety findings over time—with independent oversight—will aid acceptance. Furthermore, addressing persistent concerns regarding insurance costs and data privacy also are paramount,” said Lisa Boor, J.D. Power senior manager of auto benchmarking and mobility development.
Physical safety isn’t consumers' only concern, either. Eighty percent of respondents said they were wary of the potential for hackers to interfere with an automated vehicle, and 64% said they worry their data wouldn’t be secure, so much so that 40% said the automaker’s data-protection policy would be a major consideration in their next vehicle purchase.
“Data security and transparency regarding data use are becoming increasingly important as a foundation for building trust in technology and connected digital solutions. Trust is built over time but can be quickly eroded,” said Bryan Reimer, a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Transportation and Logistics in J.D. Power’s press release on the survey findings. “The news media's attention to a recent failure by one automotive manufacturer to safeguard drivers’ privacy is likely provoking anxiety among automotive consumers.”
In a related vehicle-automation finding, the survey found that for safety purposes, 39% of parents of teen drivers want active driver-assistance systems, or ADAS, in the vehicles the kids drive.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
A recent price spike due to several larger market forces, though it hasn’t dulled demand, is pushing more consumers to efficient models to squeeze in buys.
Read More →
A group out West picked up the major D.C.-area collection, putting it in the upper tiers of private automotive groups in the U.S.
Read More →
Lenders loosened access for subprime borrowers, and consumers with negative equity reached a record high, Cox Automotive reported.
Read More →
U.S. consumer interest in electric vehicles lags behind other countries despite the rising gas prices caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Read More →
Research reveals the brands and models most likely to have higher recall rates over their lifetimes. While some brands rank high, addressing safety issues can be a selling point.
Read More →
Cox Automotive data shows Americans doubled down on big-is-better despite price increases. Slightly higher incentives helped fuel the demand.
Read More →
Cox Automotive research shows both the opportunities and the challenges in turning consumers’ growing affordability needs into increased fixed-operations revenue.
Read More →
The partner you choose for growth and expansion is key, because better is the ultimate goal instead of growth for growth’s sake.
Read More →
The dealership profit center plays an important role in customer retention, and generation Z customers are showing the highest loyalty rates, based on recent CDK Global data.
Read More →
The Point Predictive study traced a pattern across more than 100 websites it believes are being developed by an international theft ring.
Read More →