Consumers Interested in self Driving Automobiles if the Price is right
Autonomous driver mode is a feature in future vehicles that 20 percent of drivers are interested in according toJ.D. Power and Associates. Although this non-interactive driving feature is not completely a self-driving car, it does handle several driver functions that theoretically allows drivers to literally close their eyes while driving. Moreover, self-driving features include driving, braking and steering and appeal to drivers if the cost is $3,000 per a consumer survey conducted by J.D. Power and Associates.
Although autonomous vehicles are not expected to hit markets for several more years, they have been a reality for quite some time. Planes have long had several automatic features and commercial vehicles could soon follow perCNET. There is also a financial incentive for driverless cars as drivers cost money for businesses; an expense autonomous cars could lower in some cases. Some driverless features have already showed some success as Toyota, Ford and BMW already have self parking vehicles.The consumer market for vehicles is also large, and nearly completes a full repurchase cycle approximately between every 10-15 years. Of the millions of drivers on the road, some are innovators and risk takers. This is a demographic group that are typically among the first users of new technology according toConsumer Behaviortheory. If innovators successfully adopt self-driving cars, the remainder of the industry is often not far behind.Semi-autonomous vehicles are relatively close at hand. According toAuto Trends Magazine, Cadillac could have one by 2015. The designs for this Cadillac use what is called “Super Cruise." Super cruise vehicles drive themselves using cameras and sensor technology to center the vehicle in lanes, adjust speed and brake. This is a natural extension of cruise control, but because it also takes over the function of steering, it becomes more autonomous in the process.The appeal of vehicles that drive themselves have also been researched by manufacturers such as General Motors. Furthermore, according to AutoTrends, GM performed a joint study with the Federal Highway Administration and found drivers to be particularly interested in super cruise functions for long-distance trips even though it also enables city driving in bumper to bumper type situations.Full Carspoints out driverless cars with robotic accuracy also improve road safety and capacity.Additional consumers who are more likely to want self-driving cars are blind, elderly and disabled people. However, current technology costs are still a little too high to be marketable to consumers per Kevid Fitchard ofGigaOm. Nevertheless, in addition to the aforementioned survey data, automotive producers such as BMW are currently investing substantial effort into producing self-driving cars perHuffington Post. Such objectives seem to indicate the company's believe they should at least be competitive if semi-autonomous automobiles do become widespread.
