Consumers' opinion on safety of autonomous vehicles APAC 2017-2020, by country
Vehicle development
Autonomous vehicles, or the so-called self-driving cars, have been edging their way into the Asia-Pacific automotive industry. Interestingly, China appears to be the leading Asian country in the pursuit of autonomous vehicle development. It is even estimated by 2030 that autonomous vehicles will account for a significant share of Chinese vehicle sales. However, China does not stand alone in the development of autonomous vehicles. Many globally renown vehicle manufacturers have been trialing autonomous vehicles, with Japan’s Toyota Motor Company set to release its Toyota autonomous in 2020. However, other manufacturing giants such as Nissan Motor Company, have stated their advanced autonomous vehicles will not be road-ready until the late 2020s.
Safety concerns
Yet, with stories circulating in the media regarding the dangers of autonomous vehicles, consumers appear to err on the side of caution while considering the future of self-driving vehicles. Regarding the development of autonomous vehicles, consumers across the Asia-Pacific region seem to agree that the government should have a significant amount of involvement. In order for the Asia-Pacific region to secure consumers’ trust in the autonomous vehicle market, it appears as though more safety precautions may have to be tested in the development process.