Austrians skeptical: Autonomous driving remains an unpopular topic

Austrians skeptical: Autonomous driving remains an unpopular topic

A current survey of 2,644 willhaben users shows that a majority of critical voices regarding autonomous driving prevail in Austria. Only 36.9 percent of respondents are positive about the topic, while 45.2 percent remain skeptical. These results are particularly noteworthy given that autonomous driving has already made significant technical progress in recent years and even more intensive developments are expected in 2025, especially in the areas of conditional automation (level 3) and highly automated driving (level 4). Many companies, including Tesla and Waymo, are working on fully autonomous driving systems, using a combination of cameras, radar and LiDAR to accurately sense traffic conditions.

However, Austrian drivers seem to have a clear preference for manual driving. Many are expressing concerns about the safety and technical reliability of autonomous vehicles. According to the survey by ots.at Women, older people aged 60 and over and more frequent drivers are particularly represented among the skeptics. These groups expressed their doubts in the survey, with 55.7 percent of respondents preferring to drive themselves and 42 percent citing safety concerns.

Transparency and security

There are also clear expectations about the production companies: the manufacturers Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen and Tesla are most likely to develop a safe autonomous vehicle. Despite current progress, however, there is significant skepticism among users: 66.6 percent of those surveyed do not believe that they will use a vehicle with full self-control in the next ten years. These concerns are not unfounded, as the technical infrastructure for autonomous driving, including the adaptation of transport infrastructure, and public acceptance are critical, as is also the case autoprnews.de is highlighted.

A bright spot could be the expected optimization of sensor technologies by 2025 to improve road safety. Artificial intelligence is also expected to help better predict and respond to traffic hazards, which could in principle lead to a reduction in accidents. Nevertheless, the question of the legal framework and the necessary legal adjustments required for the widespread introduction of autonomous vehicles remains crucial. The first regulations could come into force here in 2025 to promote the use of robotaxis and other autonomous mobility solutions.

Market development and consumer behavior

A look at consumer behavior shows that just over a quarter of those surveyed expect to be able to use an autonomous vehicle by 2035, provided that the technology and the legal framework continue to develop. Almost half of those surveyed say that the availability of full self-driving will have little or no influence on their purchasing decision. Interestingly, 19.6 percent are willing to pay more for an autonomous vehicle, with the majority favoring a price increase of up to 10 percent. These numbers highlight the complexity of market adoption and the challenges manufacturers face.

Ultimately, the year 2025 could potentially be a pivotal year for autonomous driving, with the potential to make mobility safer and more efficient. However, the clear skepticism and prevailing concerns of the Austrian population require targeted measures and transparent information to create trust in the new technologies.