Ipsos/Global @dvisor poll: Most Global Consumers are intrigued by the idea of self-driving cars

Washington, DC — As tech companies continue developing self-driving cars, Ipsos, on behalf of Global @dvisor, has completed a study on public perception of the new car technology. On the whole, the world seems curious, but hesitant, about the idea of self-driving cars. Fifty-eight percent of global respondents responded to the poll saying they were unsure, but intrigued by the idea of self-driving cars. Comparatively, just 13% said they would never use them and 30% are excited to use the cars and can’t wait to do so. Indian (49%), Malaysian (48%), and Chinese (46%) respondents were most likely to answer that they are excited to use self-driving cars. Meanwhile, German (31%), French (25%), American (24%), English (24%), and Canadian (24%) respondents were most likely to answer that they would never use a self-driving car.

Global respondents saw many uses for self-driving cars in cutting down on mundane driving activities. When asked how often they would use self-driving car features for various driving activities, the top responses were parking (58%), commuting (53%), and driving on the highway (53%). When it came to driving situations that required more human adaptability, respondents answered that they would use self-driving car features less often, comparatively. The lowest rate of responses saying they would frequently or always use a self-driving feature were for tasks such as driving in bad weather (40%) or driving in unfamiliar places (43%). The greatest perceived benefits to self-driving cars were all related to making driving a more luxurious experience. The world’s respondents believe self-driving cars will make driving easier (69%), more comfortable (68%), and more relaxing (64%). The top three answers by percentage for those in the US were similar with 59% believing these cars would make driving easier, 52% believing self-driving cars would be more comfortable, and 51% believing these cars would make driving more relaxing and enjoyable.

As an unprecedented technology, much of the conversation surrounding self-driving cars has centered on regulation. When asked what kind of groups global consumers most trust to write proper self-driving car regulation, the plurality of respondents answered that they most trusted those who manufactured the cars (43%). The government was the second most trusted institution with 28% of respondents answering that they trusted the government the most on the issue. Americans were slightly less trustworthy of these two regulatory institutions answering at rates of 36% and 24%, respectively.

The study was conducted as part of a special feature at www.gen-pop.com/wtf about the Future of Mobility.

About the Study

These findings are based on a survey of consumers from 28 countries via Ipsos’ Global @dvisor online survey platform. The survey was conducted between November 27 – December 8, 2017 on behalf of Global @dvisor. For this survey, Ipsos interviewed a total of 21,500+ adults aged 18-64 in the United States of America and Canada, and age 16-64 in all 26 other countries. The sample consists of 1,000+ individuals in each of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Spain, Great Britain and the USA, and 500+ individuals in each of Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Hungary, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Korea, Sweden and Turkey.

Data collected are weighted so that each country’s sample composition best reflects the demographic profile of the adult population according to the country’s most recent census data. Data collected are also weighted to give each country an equal weight in the total “global” sample. Online surveys can be taken as representative of the general working age population in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the United States. Online samples in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey are more urban, more educated and/or more affluent than the general population and the results should be viewed as reflecting the views of a more “connected” population.

Sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error. The precision of the online polls are measured using a Bayesian Credibility Interval. Here, the poll has a credibility interval of ±5.0 points for countries where sample is 500+ and ±3.5 points for countries where the sample is 1,000+.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Chris Jackson
Vice President, U.S.
Ipsos Public Affairs
+1 202 420-2025
[email protected]

Mallory Newall
Director, U.S.
Ipsos Public Affairs
+1 202 420-2014
[email protected] 

About Ipsos Public Affairs

Ipsos Public Affairs is a non-partisan, objective, survey-based research practice made up of seasoned professionals. We conduct strategic research initiatives for a diverse number of American and international organizations, based not only on public opinion research, but elite stakeholder, corporate, and media opinion research.

Ipsos has media partnerships with the most prestigious news organizations around the world. In Canada, the U.S., UK, and internationally, Ipsos Public Affairs is the media polling supplier to Reuters News, the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. Ipsos Public Affairs is a member of the Ipsos Group, a leading global survey-based market research company. We provide boutique-style customer service and work closely with our clients, while also undertaking global research.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks fourth in the global research industry.

With offices in 88 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across five research specializations: brand, advertising and media; customer loyalty; marketing; public affairs research; and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of €1,782.7 million in 2016.