| In Motoring News
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In 2024, the landscape of transportation is evolving with the progression of self-driving cars and autonomous vehicle technology. This shift, once viewed as a distant future, is now unfolding, bringing changes in mobility, safety, and environmental impacts.
With self-driving tech gaining traction and stirring up plenty of buzz, we decided it's the perfect time for a deep dive into the stats that are shaping this future. Inspired by the latest SMMT report, which pushes for the Automated Vehicles Bill, there's a lot at stake here—think avoiding 53,000 serious accidents and a £38 billion boost to the economy by 2040. Plus, it turns out that nearly a third of UK adults, especially Gen Z, are already keen to jump into automated rides. This is a game-changer in transportation, and we’re here to break down what that means for all of us.
Market Value and Sales
- By 2030, the self-driving car market is set to be worth $536.6 billion (£425.1 billion).
- By 2030, sales of self-driving cars are set to reach 58 million units.
- Tesla’s projected sales revenue for autonomous cars will be $75 billion by 2030.
- In 1977, Tsukuba Mechanical in Japan produced the first-ever autonomous passenger vehicle
Technological Adoption and Advancements
- By 2040, 70% of new cars could have some form of autonomous technology.
- By 2045, 60% of cars could be fully autonomous.
- Between December 2022 and November 2023, Apple in California logged 450,000 miles of autonomous driving.
- In 2019, around 31 million cars had some form of autonomous technology.
- In 2024, it’s expected that 54 million cars will have some form of autonomous technology.
- Over 1,400 self-driving cars are currently in testing.
- Over 80 companies are testing self-driving cars.
- 95% of new vehicles on the market will offer level 4 or level 5 autonomous capabilities by 2030.
- The self-driving vehicle industry expands by 16% every year, globally.
Environmental and Safety Impacts
- 90% of traffic emissions could be reduced by autonomous vehicles.
- Fully autonomous cars could be 10%-20% more fuel efficient.
- Traffic delays could be reduced by 26%.
- Autonomous vehicles could reduce the number of car accidents caused by human error, which currently stands at 94%.
- 1,442,000 accidents and 12,000 fatalities could be prevented by autonomous vehicles.
- By 2040, the deployment of self-driving passenger vehicles on UK roads could potentially save 3,200 lives and prevent 53,000 serious accidents, contributing an economic boost of £38 billion.
Consumer Perception and Investment
- In the UK, £5 billion could be saved with the reduction of insurance, running expenses, and parking costs.
- One in 20 drivers would feel safe travelling in a driverless car.
- A third of drivers would only feel safe in a driverless car if they could take over the controls.
- Per one million driverless miles, only 9.1 driverless car crashes occur.
- Since COVID-19, there's been an increase of 26% in customers' willingness to try self-driving vehicles.
- Approximately 29% of all adults are ready to use an automated passenger service immediately, with interest rising to 44% among Generation Z, who have yet to experience this advanced technology.
Funding and Development
- $2.25 billion was raised by Google from external investors to develop self-driving vehicles.
- Apple invested $16 billion in research and development for autonomous vehicles.
The Different Levels of Autonomous Driving
- Level 0: No Automation - Manual control by the driver with basic alerts or emergency interventions.
- Level 1: Driver Assistance - Vehicle controls either steering or acceleration with continuous driver supervision.
- Level 2: Partial Automation - Combined automated functions like steering and acceleration with required driver engagement.
- Level 3: Conditional Automation - Vehicle handles all driving tasks in specific conditions, driver must intervene when requested.
- Level 4: High Automation - The vehicle operates autonomously in certain conditions without driver intervention but may allow for driver control.
- Level 5: Full Automation - The vehicle is fully autonomous in all conditions, eliminating the need for a driver or controls.
Source:
- https://gitnux.org/self-driving-cars-statistics
- https://www.wired.com/story/apple-ramped-up-autonomous-vehicle-testing-last-year/
- https://www.g2.com/articles/self-driving-vehicle-statistics
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/location-data-can-help-deliver-the-safe-rollout-of-autonomous-vehicles
- https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/fleet-industry-news/2022/08/26/safety-concerns-over-driverless-and-self-driving-cars
- https://www.knrlegal.com/car-accident-lawyer/self-driving-car-accident-statistics/
- https://www.statista.com/topics/3573/autonomous-vehicle-technology/#topicOverview
- https://www.salvilaw.com/self-driving-cars/
- https://www.smmt.co.uk/2024/03/back-automated-vehicles-bill-to-unlock-multi-billion-uk-self-driving-revolution/