Back in February 2017, research firm Deloitte reported consumer trepidation surrounding autonomous vehicles. According to the report, 74 percent of people surveyed in the U.S. believed autonomous vehicles would not be safe. This worry trickled down to other countries, with 62 and 81 percent of participants sharing similar sentiments in China and South Korea, respectively. Since then, public opinions on self-driving vehicles has fluctuated in both directions—at least in the U.S. Other parts of the world mentioned in last year’s report have both shifted or retained their stance over the last 12-16 months.
The infographic below shows public views on driverless cars in 15 countries across the world. While the vast majority of those surveyed are ultimately “unsure” about autonomous cars, there are some notable correlations that emerge among those in favor or against the idea. It seems enthusiasm for self-driving vehicles is higher in developing and Asian countries like India, Saudi Arabia, China, and South Korea, whereas drivers in western nations like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany are more weary.
For the most part, there appears to be more support for self-driving vehicles than opposition throughout the world, with the majority of those against the idea presiding in European and North American nations. The graphic represents different parts of the world fairly well, containing a good mix of modern and developing countries from every continent (except Antarctica).