A new study by J.D. Power notes that Canadians are unprepared for autonomous vehicles (AVs) and have a poor understanding of the technology.
The study pegs Canadians at a consumer AV readiness index of 37 out of 100.
The study had some interesting findings:
- 67 per cent of respondents had inaccurate knowledge of AVs
- 59 per cent listed various driver-assist technologies as part of the AV category
- 48 per cent saw hacking as a potential disadvantage to the technology
- 50 per cent of respondents noted that online searches were the best way to learn about AVs
- Of those, 50 per cent went to auto manufacturer sites, 36 per cent to online videos and 34 per cent to industry or academic experts.
- 55 per cent of people were willing to take a course to learn more about the technology
- Finally, 79 per cent wanted more information on AVs that met government standards to feel more comfortable.
As per Lisa Boor, J.D. Power’s Senior Manager of Auto Benchmarking and Mobility Development. The big takeaway from this study is that:
Consumers are receptive to learning about technology but managing misconceptions regarding the benefits AVs offer is imperative.
Evidently, both car manufacturers and the government need to do a little more work educating the general public about AVs and the technology within the vehicle. However, this will be interesting to see if AV knowledge grows as more automakers progress into the tech.
