Astonishing Facts and Predictions about Self-Driving Cars

Date: Sept. 13, 2016

Most of us realize that self-driving cars will have an immense impact on the experience of driving. But many of us overlook the immense scope of the changes that advanced vehicles will have in other areas of our lives.

A recent article in The Motley Fool by Chris Neiger, “12 Jaw-Dropping Driverless Car Facts,” delivers predictions that show just how dramatically self-driving cars could change the world we live in.

To summarize some of Neiger’s predictions . . .

• Lots of self-driving cars are on the way. By 2035, there could be 75 million vehicles on the road that use self-driving technologies. And in that same year, 10% of all vehicles could be fully self-driving. Neiger’s source: IHS Automotive.
• Many lives will be saved. Autonomous vehicles could save 33,000 lives every year in the U.S. and as many as 10 million lives worldwide every 10 years.
• The cost of a self-driving car will plummet. By 2035, self-driving capability will add only $3,000 to the cost of a car, down from $70,000 – $100,000 in 2014.
• Vehicle sharing could become more popular. Elon Musk has already announced plans to develop a plan to create a fleet of self-driving Tesla vehicles that drivers can share.
• Autonomous cars could save taxpayers money. Neiger writes that 7% of the cost of U.S. accidents is now covered by the government. The coming reduction in the number of accidents, ushered in by self-driving cars, could save taxpayers as much as $10 billion annually.
• China will be a big player. As many as 30% of the world’s self-driving cars will be on the road there. Neiger’s source: The Boston Consulting Group.
• Leases of self-driving cars are coming fast. Volvo has already announced plans to lease 100 Volvo SUVs to Swedish customers . . . next year.

Learn even more eye-opening facts and predictions of driverless vehicles at our upcoming Driverless Cities Summit in San Francisco this October!