Tesla’s robotaxi forces us to wonder about consumer perception of Full Self Driving

After months, actually years of waiting, Tesla finally unveiled its robotaxi last October. Much analysis went into the new self driving car.

The company unveiled its long-awaited robotaxi with two gull-wing doors and no steering wheel or pedals. The “Cybercab” is a two-seater and low slung, a design far from the idea of a taxi right now, causing experts to criticize it, since a taxi usually has space for more than two passengers.

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“When you think of a cab, you think of something that’s going to carry more than two people,” Reuters quoted Jonathan Elfalan, vehicle testing director for the automotive website Edmunds.com. “Making this a two-seat-only car is very perplexing.”

The design caused Tesla’s stocks to tumble by 9%. But buyers were already lining up. Palo Alto, home to Tesla’s engineering headquarters, is in talks with the carmaker to deploy a fleet of robotaxis in the city.

It’s interesting to see the change in the auto consumer as the world is being pushed towards automated cars

Elon Musk says the Cybercab, built without a steering wheel or pedals, will start production by 2026 or 2027. But we know Tesla and deadlines aren’t often in sync.

The fact that the design is an FSD (Full Self Driving), is also raising concerns about regulations.

It’s interesting to see the change in the auto consumer as the world is being pushed towards automated cars. A design like Tesla’s Cybercab, which is an FSD, means a tectonic shift in how the consumer perceives an automobile. Research is ongoing into the influence of anthropomorphism and social responsiveness in the transition from human to automated driving. Research also says that drivers are more likely to engage in non-driving activities, such as checking their phones or eating a sandwich, when using partial automation systems, with some easily skirting rules set to limit distractions.

Tesla is not the only one to offer driverless rides. As of September, Uber and Waymo have begun to offer driverless ride-hailing trips in Austin and Atlanta.

Other concerns at another level. The US is cautious about Chinese software in US autonomous and connected vehicles. The automated vehicle is a piece of formidable machine that can accomplish much damage if hacked.

Meanwhile, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is entering the automobile space as well. Japan’s Toyota announced tying up with China’s Tencent while Nissan will team up with Baidu. The separate announcements from two of Japan’s biggest automakers at the Beijing auto show highlight the importance of AI for carmakers.

What Today’s Drivers Want: AI

As per Continental Mobility Study 2024, the majority (54%) of younger drivers in countries like Germany China, France, Japan and the US, cars are a status symbol. They’re particularly enthusiastic about technological advances in cars. They look forward to the benefits self-driving cars will offer in terms of being able to read, play video games or work (51% of 25 to 34-year-olds). In addition to autonomous driving, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the form of digital voice assistants is very popular with this group.

“The findings show that the response to new technologies such as automated driving, large displays and AI in cars varies greatly between generations and also between countries. That’s why we aim to provide customized solutions – market-specific, tailor-made and modular,” says Philipp von Hirschheydt, Continental Executive Board member responsible for the Automotive group sector, commenting on the survey findings.

Around two-thirds of younger people up to the age of 34 also believe that state-of-the-art technologies should be mandatory in newly registered cars to make traffic safer, a perception that signals approval of the EU directive requiring certain advanced driver assistance systems in new cars, which has been in force since July 2024.

Another future technology that is particularly popular with younger people is AI assistants in cars. Almost three-quarters of respondents (74 %) between the ages of 18 and 34 would welcome an AI voice as a service that, like a virtual travel companion, that provides useful information about sights and restaurants along the route, finds the nearest gas or charging station, searches for free parking spaces or even compiles personal messages.

“Younger people in particular have changing expectations of cars. These are closely linked to pioneering technologies such as automated driving, which deliver new user experiences.” — Philipp von Hirschheydt

“Younger people in particular have changing expectations of cars. These are closely linked to pioneering technologies such as automated driving, which deliver new user experiences,” explains Philipp von Hirschheydt, adding, “At Continental, we’re already equipping cars with AI. Together with our partner Google Cloud, we have developed a virtual companion for drivers. We are particularly proud to be one of the first automotive suppliers worldwide to integrate Google Cloud applications directly into our vehicle computers.”

AI-Powered Virtual Travel Companion, Large Displays

The comparison between countries reveals a widespread openness to highly automated and autonomous driving in Asia across all age groups. In China, nine out of 10 respondents (90 %) view the relevant technologies as a useful development, while in Japan, almost three- quarters (72 %) share this sentiment. In France (60 %) and the USA (56 %), more than half of those surveyed have a positive attitude. In Germany, around one in two respondents (49 %) feel the same.

Read more: Autonomous Vehicles see investment but where is the promise of safety?

An AI-powered virtual travel companion is particularly popular in China, where nine out of 10 respondents (91 %) say they would like to have such a service. In the US (66 %) and Japan (63 %), around two-thirds express this wish, while in France (58 %) and Germany (57 %) more than half would be happy to have the technology.

There is broad agreement across all countries on the ideal size of a car display for infotainment content. Most people prefer larger displays (China 90%, Germany 81%, France 79%, and the US 80%, and Japan 69%). However, preferences differ significantly when it comes to technological details. While the Japanese and German prefer a simpler display on car screens, a slight majority in the US favor more colors. Voice control is particularly popular in Japan and China, while the number is significantly lower in Germany.