LOS ANGELES — Although the technology is just in its infancy, one in five drivers expresses interest in cars that drive themselves, according to a survey by research firm J.D. Power and Associates.
Tech giant Google, universities and other organizations have been working to develop such “autonomous” vehicles, which use radar, video cameras and lasers to navigate roads and stay safe in traffic without human assistance.
Google has said that computer-controlled cars should eventually drive more safely than humans, who, after all, get sleepy and distracted and can’t see in every direction at once.
Some vehicle owners believe that one benefit of autonomous driving is taking control of a vehicle from careless and distracted drivers, the research firm said. So drivers could text as much as they want without endangering others.
But auto enthusiasts see autonomous driving as a “loss of status and would not want to give up the pleasure of driving,” J.D. Power said in its report, which surveyed 17,400 drivers in March.
“Consumers are still learning about how autonomous driving technology could be used in their vehicles,” said Mike VanNieuwkuyk, executive director of global automotive research at J.D. Power. “Many owners are skeptical about releasing control of their vehicle and would like to see the technology proved out before they adopt it.”
J.D. Power found that 20 percent of vehicle owners say they “definitely would” or “probably would” purchase it in their next vehicle after learning the estimated market price of $3,000. Before learning the price, interest for this technology was at 37 percent.
Men, drivers between the ages of 18 and 37, and people who live in urban areas were the most interested in fully autonomous driving, J.D. Power found.
