Study

New transport systems and transport options are being developed, which – thanks to intelligent control and complementary sharing concepts – can decrease the volume of traffic. However, traveling alone in one’s own vehicle will also fundamentally change as a result of increasing automation. The idea that the time spent in a vehicle can be used for a range of activities is causing us to reevaluate what travel time means. Little by little, it is easy to see the benefits that the vision of a self-driving car offers with regard to working persons, people who require assistance and children without a driver’s license: Mobility on demand and the opportunity to make efficient use of travel time by working or shopping, or by satisfying basic needs such as sleeping, talking, eating and drinking.

With this study, our goal was to determine and record the attitudes and requirements of future users of autonomous vehicles with regard to using travel time for more than just traveling. Central aspects during the process included user requirements regarding the design of vehicle interiors and the willingness to pay for individual equipment packages. Compared to the 2016 study – “The Value of Time – Potential for User-Centered Services Offered by Autonomous Driving” – the scope of this study was extended to include five countries and a total of 2500 participants. The research parameters of this study enable the responses to be evaluated in accordance with demographic characteristics such as gender, distribution of age and income, single-person and multi-person households, urban populations and rural populations, or daily travel time.

Overview of the key findings:

• China is the country with the highest level of willingness to use autonomous mobility solutions – by a clear margin
• When compared to other countries, Germany has the lowest acceptance values for the respective usage types. The critical evaluation of the safety risk seems to be the predominant discouraging factor for German participants
• U.S. study participants exhibit a disproportionally strong aversion to the idea of no longer having one’s own vehicle
• Study participants from France exhibit a high level of acceptance for sharing concepts
• Japanese study participants rate a variety of equipment options as far less appealing when compared to other countries