Audi study shows 5 user types of autonomous driving

Interest in autonomous driving? Not in the case of the suspicious driver. People of this type prefer to take the wheel themselves. As fans of safety, they are fundamentally critical of the unknown – and this also applies to new technologies. They prefer the status quo. Suspicious drivers have no emotional attachment to the car. For them, a car is an item for handling everyday tasks. They do not need the latest technology for this. They will not turn their attention to self-driving cars until a large majority of people are already driving autonomously on the roads. 14 percent of global respondents fall into this category. This type is most often encountered in Germany (26 percent), the USA (23 percent) and France (21 percent). The Human Readiness Index of the suspicious driver is –8.4.

Safety-oriented reluctants tend to be reserved about autonomous driving. They have low interest in autonomous driving and do not know much about it. Nevertheless, they do have some curiosity: for example, safety-oriented reluctants can imagine the autonomous car taking control in congestion on a highway, so long as they can intervene at any time – or when parking. This makes it clear that safety is the key point for them, and they are less in search of adventure. This type, at 24 percent of respondents, is the second-largest group in the typology. The safety-oriented reluctant is found most often in Japan (31 percent), France (30 percent) and the United Kingdom (28 percent). Their Human Readiness Index is –2.8.

Open-minded co-pilots basically regard autonomous driving in a positive light. However, they do not see things in black and white. They expect greater safety and more convenience from autonomously driving cars, but wish to be able to intervene at all times. Most of all, they would like to have their own car for autonomous driving. Here it is important to them that self-driving cars have previously been tested in real situations on public roads, ideally in a variety of different weather and road conditions. 30 percent of respondents are in the open-minded co-pilot category, making this the largest user group, especially well represented in South Korea (37 percent), Japan (35 percent), Italy (33 percent) and Spain (32 percent). The Human Readiness Index of the open-minded co-pilot is +1.3.

Life can always get even better: in search of excitement and adventure, new technologies are just the thing for trendsetters. They are correspondingly open to the idea of trying out autonomous driving. More than others, status-oriented trendsetters believe that it will improve their image. Nevertheless, they take a thoughtful look at the technology: they regard safety aspects more critically than many others. They would also like to find out more about the systems and the algorithms behind them. Ultimately, the trendsetter is convinced that the technology will win out if reputable manufacturers take care of developing it. In total 16 percent of respondents are status-oriented trendsetters. This type of person is found most frequently in South Korea (28 percent) and the USA (22 percent). The Human Readiness Index of the status-oriented trendsetter is +3.3.

Tech-savvy passengers would ideally like to get aboard self-driving cars today. For them it is only a question of time before autonomous driving becomes reality. Openness and flexibility play a key role in their lives. They are the only user type for whom the loss of control is not the principal concern. Their reservations are more about issues such as the lack of a legal framework. As technology fans they are not afraid of being merely a passenger. They believe in positive effects such as easier access to mobility, greater convenience and above all greater safety on the road. Tech-savvy passengers are highly aware of environmental issues, and also use bicycles and public transport systems alongside cars. In total, 16 percent of respondents are tech-savvy passengers. They are found most often in China (46 percent). The Human Readiness Index of the tech-savvy passenger is +8.4.