The push to develop a driverless car by Google and other manufacturers isn’t a matter of keeping up with the Joneses as much as these vehicles feature much of the technology younger drivers claim their want in their vehicles right now.
According to a recent survey of more than 14,000 drivers in 12 countries, Gen Y customers expressed preference for technologies that are all vital to creating a driverless vehicle.
While there is ongoing debate about the future and safety of driverless cars, Accenture’s research shows that, on average, 90% of the survey respondents have an interest in some autonomous driving options, primarily those related to safety.
Some of the features they want include:
- automatic braking systems that stop the car in an emergency (82%)
- automatic braking systems that prevent hitting an object (76%)
- collision-warning systems (72%)
- fully automatic parking (71%)
- lane-keeping systems (48%)
Gen Yers, also known as millennials, are about a third of all U.S. drivers and currently the top target for automakers looking to add new customers.
Not only do they appear to be more comfortable with the idea of a driverless car than their older counterparts, in general, technology aimed at making the driving experience more pleasant, such as Internet access, entertainment options, etc., will play a role in their vehicle purchase and force automakers to devote more time and energy to produce better iterations of those products.
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“Combined with the increased use of connected vehicle technologies and digital services among consumers in mature markets, the high demand across the emerging world will no doubt speed the development and influence the rollout of next-generation products and services by the global auto industry,” said Luca Mentuccia, global managing director for Accenture’s Automotive practice.
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“This is especially significant considering that nearly 40% of drivers surveyed indicated that in-car technology is the primary factor they consider in purchasing a new car.”
How lazy is that that they can’t be bothered driving?
I think the headline is very misleading — Millennials (and others) may well have a favorable opinion about certain ‘safety’ features, but it’s a big stretch to infer that they want ‘self-driving’ cars. Embracing the safety features stands on its own merit.