Most people still don’t want anything to do with robotaxis

I’ve been reporting on self-driving cars for more than a decade and have seen the technology go through many ups and downs, ups and downs. But one thing has remained remarkably the same over the years: the public simply doesn’t believe it.

Poll after poll has revealed deep and abiding skepticism about autonomous vehicles. People don’t trust the technology and don’t want to ride in cars without a human driver – even though evidence suggests the vehicle could be much safer than a human driver. Of course, robotaxis now operate in a dozen cities, and companies like Waymo don’t seem to have any problems finding customers. But when you widen the aperture and start asking people what they really think about these new robots on the road, they reveal their suspicions.

A new survey from the Electric Vehicle Intelligence Report, a market research group, highlights this ongoing problem with autonomous vehicles. The group surveyed 2,081 U.S. consumers between March 23 and 29, with a margin of error of ±2.1%. When asked if they would ride a robotaxi, 53% said no and 26% said they were not considering the possibility at the moment.

Surprisingly, assurances about safety and price reductions don’t really move the numbers. When asked to assume that robot taxi technology is “100% safe,” 42% of consumers said they would never consider using one, while 22% said they currently have no plans to use one. And when given the choice between a “100% safe” robot taxi and a human-driven taxi, only 12% chose the robot taxi, while 56% chose the human driver.

When offered a $5 discount on the 100% safe robotaxi option, the needle moves modestly: 19% would choose the cheaper robotaxi, while 48% would choose the more expensive human-driven ride, and a third would opt out of the question altogether.

In fact, one in three people surveyed said no amount of money would entice them to take a robo-taxi ride. Thirty-two percent say that even if robo-taxis were safe and cheaper, they would still prefer a human behind the wheel. Only 5% say they would use a robo-taxi at the moment. And for every metric the group tested, a third or more of consumers say they don’t use rideshares, taxis or robo-taxis, and don’t intend to.

This survey is not an exception. Numerous public opinion polls over the years have shown a decline in support for autonomous vehicles and a rise in hostility toward the technology. People are increasingly worried about seeing self-driving cars taking over the streets. And just when robo-taxis seem to be getting better at avoiding nuisances, like blocking intersections or impeding emergency vehicles, a new problem arises, like Waymo vehicles driving past stopped school buses while dropping off students.

Tesla, in particular, contributes largely to this uncertainty. The EV Intelligence Report poll found that 81% of respondents agree with a judge’s recent ruling that Tesla’s use of “Autopilot” and “fully autonomous driving” in its marketing was misleading and violated state law. Tesla asks its owners using FSD to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road, but most people think that’s not the case. Nearly two-thirds of consumers (63%) don’t think Tesla owners using FSD are attentive when using the technology, and 32% of them say they think FSD actively lulls drivers into a state of inattention.

Tesla’s new robotaxi service, available only in Austin, also raises a lot of doubts. When presented with data on Tesla’s record robotaxi accidents since its launch last year compared to Waymo’s, consumers are skeptical of the company’s safety record. Eighty-seven percent say they are concerned about the safety of Tesla’s robo-taxi, 72 percent say it makes them less confident in Tesla as a company, and 69 percent say it makes them less likely to consider riding a Tesla robo-taxi.

Consumers are also troubled by Tesla’s decision to remove human safety monitors from its robotaxis. Eighty-four percent say they are uncomfortable with the decision, and 81 percent think Tesla should not be allowed to offer fully autonomous robo-taxi rides without an on-board safety monitor.