http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=175144&CultureCode=en
The average consumer would be willing to pay $4,900 more for a car that had self-driving technologies, and $3,500 more for crash avoidance, according to a new study published in Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies.
The researchers, from Cornell University in the US, also found a big difference in what people would be willing to pay: some would stretch to more than $10,000 for automation, while others would pay nothing at all. Car manufacturers should consider this as technologies develop and give people flexible options.
Today it's possible to buy a car that can park itself, stay in lane and maintain a constant speed. The technology is developing fast and many companies are already testing self-driving cars; it's likely we will soon see fully automated cars on the market. But will people be willing to pay for this technology and how can manufacturers and policy makers make sure it is rolled out to our roads smoothly? This is what Dr. Ricardo Daziano and his colleagues wanted to find out.
Are consumers willing to pay to let cars drive for them? Analyzing response to autonomous vehicles (DOI: 10.1016/j.trc.2017.03.003) (DX)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 12 2017, @07:11PM
I have not owned an automobile for a long time, until 3 years ago. And yes, if you have no need for one this would seem like meh type of news. However, you will still interact with these vehicles, and it could be a blessing or a curse depending on implementation and the wideness of the adaptation.
I would hope the vehicle will keep careless drivers from mowing you down while you cross the street. However some H1B replacement for the original AI-programmer might make the vehicle jump the curb and run you down because it thinks you are an exit ramp.