J.D. Power: Study finds shaky consumer confidence in AVs, EVs

August 19, 2019
Autonomous autopilot smart driverless electric car self-driving on road to city. Viewed from the car interior dashboard display. Vector cartoon style with night skyline panoramic perspective horizon.

Mcity Affiliate partner J.D. Power recently released a new Mobility Confidence Index Study that suggests the industry has its work cut out for itself in terms of consumer confidence. 

The inaugural study found consumers have a low level of comfort about the future of self-driving vehicles, posting a confidence index of 36 on a 100-point scale. The index for battery-electric vehicles was 55.

“Out of the box, these scores are not encouraging. As automakers head down the developmental road to self-driving vehicles and greater electrification, it’s important to know if consumers are on the same road—and headed in the same direction. That doesn’t seem to be the case right now.”

Kristin Kolodge, Executive Director, Driver Interaction & Human Machine Interface Research, JD Power

The purpose of the Mobility Confidence Index Study is to become the pulse of market readiness and acceptance for self-driving and battery-electric vehicles, as seen through the eyes of consumers and industry experts, Kolodge said.

The index is important in helping manufacturers and others, like Mcity, who are advancing mobility technology understand where consumers are in terms of comprehending and accepting new mobility technologies. With more outreach and education, drivers will become more accustomed to these offerings and there is potential for consumer mindsets to shift. This index will help measure the shift.

“Consumers are mostly uninformed and inexperienced with both self-driving vehicles and battery-electric vehicles,” Kolodge said. “This impacts consumer purchase consideration and their understanding of potential benefits for these mobility options.”

J.D. Power joined global survey software company SurveyMonkey to conduct the study. More than 5,700 consumers were polled about self-driving vehicles, and nearly 5,300 about battery-electric vehicles.

Read J.D. Power’s news release: Mobility Pipe Dreams? J.D. Power and SurveyMonkey Uncover Shaky Consumer Confidence About the Future



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