About one in three Americans, or 31%, predict that driverless cars will be widely utilized in the U.S. within the next five years, according to a Gallup poll released on Tuesday. This is a notable increase from 19%% in 2018. Additionally, 34%% of respondents anticipate the technology becoming common in six to ten years. Despite this optimism about autonomous vehicles, interest in owning or leasing one remains low, with only 19%% indicating they would consider it over the next two decades.
The survey, conducted last fall, highlighted demographic differences in attitudes towards self-driving cars. Among respondents earning over $100,000, 25%% expressed a willingness to adopt the technology, while only 15%% of those making less than $50,000 felt the same. Educational background also played a role, as 24%% of college graduates showed openness to owning autonomous vehicles, compared to 16%% of non-graduates. Furthermore, 24%% of Americans of color were inclined to consider ownership, as opposed to 16%% of white Americans.
As robotaxi services expand, companies like Waymo and Uber are increasing their presence in multiple cities. Waymo already operates in 11 cities including San Francisco and Los Angeles, while Uber plans to invest $100 million in charging infrastructure for autonomous vehicles.