Currently, it looks as if persons are spending numerous time pondering what society will probably be like post-Coronavirus. Whereas everyone seems to be craving going again to the world we knew, we’re additionally acknowledging that the world won’t ever be the identical. I respect that there have been many articles (like this one and this one) that current among the societal shifts that might occur on account of this pandemic and I figured I’d take it a step farther and see what it’d imply within the driverless trade. Listed here are among the massive tendencies (related to driverless autos) that I’m seeing:
- Automotive gross sales are shifting to a web based market (hyperlink right here);
- Searching for groceries, garments, and all the things else is massively shifting on-line, which is lowering our particular person automobile possession, however placing heavy reliance on items supply (hyperlink right here);
- Since workplaces are encouraging working remotely, buying has largely shifted on-line, and most public locations are closed, persons are driving a lot much less (hyperlink right here);
- Individuals are scared to journey public transit and take shared rides as a result of shut proximity to others (link right here);
Whereas many of those modifications are out of necessity at the moment, it’s very potential that they may instill long-term change. So what does this imply for driverless autos? It’s clear persons are anticipating the driverless supply of products, which is a superb alternative for constructing client acceptance for driverless autos, normally. And this large discount in car miles traveled (VMT) is reminding folks of a cleaner, safer world – may this create longer-term impacts? Higher environmental insurance policies? Alternatively, this doesn’t bode nicely for shared, driverless rides – although I’m hopeful this isn’t a long-term impression.
I hope our society might be considerate about how we re-open our society…not simply close to the sharing of germs, however with our insurance policies, our companies, and our particular person practices. Let’s take into consideration the world we wish and grow to be proactively attempt to make it occur. Shared, electrical, driverless autos – how will we get there? Encourage shared rides, incentivize electrical car utilization, create supportive driverless laws, discourage single occupancy car utilization (and car possession, normally), and proceed to exhibit and talk driverless car success tales. Whereas the expertise continues to be superior, these are all essential foundational parts.
