Many consumers in survey don't trust AVs, but a few say ‘someday'

Survey says: Consumers still wary of AVs

Today, consumers are not ready to trust self-driving technology. They might eventually warm up.

The most recent survey of consumer sentiments toward automated driving finds that 69 percent of respondents do not trust autonomous technology today. But more than 4 in 10 tell researchers they believe self-driving vehicles will someday be the safest way to travel.

Findings come from approximately 2,000 consumers queried for the 2022 Vehicle Predictions report issued Wednesday by Xperi. While any number of other reports have probed similar territory, there are some noteworthy nuggets.

Chiefly, the report delineates between measuring interest in self-driving technology and trust in self-driving technology: Thirty-eight percent are interested in owning a self-driving car, despite the lack of trust.

Something for interior vehicle developers to further consider is that car owners see their vehicles as a "place of refuge" both today and in the future. Nearly half say their vehicle is a place they can escape domestic or work-related pressures now, and more than 7 in 10 see a future in which the car becomes an extension of their office or living room.

— Pete Bigelow

What you need to know

GM boosts processing power, speeds decision-making for Ultra Cruise Despite its compact size, the compute architecture that will enable General Motors' Ultra Cruise driver-assist technology will have the processing power of several hundred personal computers, allowing the system to make quick decisions on city streets, the automaker said Thursday. "It will take qualities that have distinguished GM's advanced driver assist systems since 2017 to the next level with door-to-door hands-free driving," Ken Morris, GM vice president of electric, autonomous and fuel cell vehicle programs, said in a statement.

Our Next Energy achieves 752-mile range during real-world test in retrofitted Model S
A team from Michigan startup Our Next Energy Inc. retrofitted a Tesla Model S with the company's own battery. The car traveled 752 miles on the proof-of-concept battery without recharging. That mileage roughly doubles the range of electric vehicles on the market. The real-world test occurred at an average speed of 55 mph, and in temperatures that reached a high of 41 degrees Fahrenheit in southeast Michigan and while enduring occasional windy conditions.

Roundup

CES took place this week as a hybrid in-person and virtual event. Find our full coverage at autonews.com/ces.

CES panel: Diversify work force for more inclusion in mobility.

Toyota Motor Corp. is planning to launch its own operating system, which would be capable of handling advanced operations such as autonomous driving, for its vehicles by 2025, the Nikkei reported.

TuSimple Holdings Inc. on Tuesday said it has partnered with Nvidia Corp. to use the company's vehicle chips to design and build an advanced autonomous driving computer for its self-driving trucks.

Shares in Rivian Automotive Inc., the electric pickup maker backed by Amazon, briefly tumbled below the company's November IPO price Thursday as the industry darling faces growing competition in the EV market.

Mobileye unveils deals with VW, Ford, Geely on applications for driver-assist tech.

General Motors plans to launch three Chevrolet electric vehicles next year.

Stellantis said it is linking with Amazon to help spearhead its vehicle software push and get the electric Ram ProMaster van on the road next year to make deliveries, in a series of multiyear agreements.

Volvo to debut autonomous driving tech in California; Luminar's lidar is a key part of a 30-sensor, subscription-based system.

Volta Trucks adding Here navigation system featuring what3words.

Last mile

Volkswagen Group plans to unveil the ID Buzz, an electric iteration of its iconic hippie-era microbus, on March 9. CEO Herbert Diess announced the date Thursday in a Twitter post that sketched out the contours of the new design, which draws on the lines of the original model.