Continental: US drivers skeptical about autonomous driving

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The sixth edition of Continental’s Mobility Study confirms that owning a car is the most important form of transportation for U.S. residents with the majority of survey respondents expressing reservations about fully automated driving.

“The attitude toward private car ownership has seemingly strengthened in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” says Robert Lee, president, Continental North America. “There has been a clear international trend toward private transportation. While it’s growing more prevalent across the world, the U.S. has a particular affinity for traditional driving.”

Of the U.S. respondents, 77% like to be in the driver’s seat when riding in a vehicle. Owning a car is also particularly important in the U.S., with 88% saying they prefer to have their own car to drive.

“Many drivers want to have new, emerging technology in the car, they just don’t want to relinquish control of their vehicle to it,” Lee explains. However, the number of skeptics who feel automated driving will never work properly has greatly reduced from 75% in 2018 to 52% in 2020. Also, 32% are eagerly awaiting automated driving features – a slight increase from 2018. He predicts that as people get more used to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), they’ll begin to see the value of computer-controlled mobility.

Continental AG https://www.continental.com