COMPANY Data
Movers and SHAKERS
Along with electric vehicles, the concept of autonomous vehicles is garnering significant media attention as technology leaders, including Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG), Amazon (AMZN), and Uber (UBER) seek to establish market leading positions in the nascent technology. While concepts include driverless taxis and/or delivery trucks, the technology has already advanced from driver assistance to an ability to pilot automated vehicles in a controlled environment. While still too early for practical application and mass adoption, technology advancements in this area could have profound implications for not just urban planning, jobs and convenience, but for social and political policies as well. Are there parallels to be drawn from President Trump’s statement following the tragic Boeing 737 Max incident when he tweeted “I see it all the time in many products. Always seeking to go one unnecessary step further, when often old and simpler is better”? Below we scratch the surface on each side of the argument.
Enhanced safety. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), 37,133 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes in 2017. NHTSA Deputy Administrator Heidi R. King stated that “dangerous actions such as speeding, distracted driving and driving under the influence are still putting many Americans, their families and those they share the road with at risk.” Many believe that autonomous vehicles could reduce fatalities caused by human error and/or carelessness.
Efficiency and productivity. Autonomous vehicles could enhance efficiency,
particularly if it promotes ride sharing.
Not as many cars would sit idle in parking garages and lots with a
transition to transportation on demand.
Environmental benefits. Autonomous vehicles, particularly
electric-powered, could reduce emissions.
Akin to cruise control, sensors and software aboard the vehicle could
result in more consistent and appropriate distances between automobiles and
vehicle speed, thus lowering emissions released from frequent braking and
acceleration and improved fuel economy.
Enhanced mobility.
For those with restricted mobility as a result of age or disability,
fully automated cars could enhance transportation options and improve access to
employment opportunities and health care.
Job losses. According to the American Trucking Association, there were 3.5 million truck drivers employed in the United States in 2018. Autonomous vehicles could result in a loss of those jobs.
Technology blind spots.
Many believe the systems used to power driver-less cars are far too nascent, and many are skeptical the technology is
advanced enough to correctly anticipate every situation without human
intervention fearing a mishap like the recent Boeing 737 MAX crashes. In March 2019, AAA announced the results of its
annual automated vehicle survey that found that 71% of people are afraid to
ride in fully self-driving vehicles.
Obsolescence. According
to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the average age of passenger cars
and light trucks in operation in the United States has risen from 8.4 years in
1995 to 11.6 years in 2016. Much like an
I-Phone, changes in technology and software are likely to accelerate vehicle
obsolescence and require more frequent purchases of automobiles, even for
ride-share services. The automakers and
tech companies may just be counting on it.
More than just the vehicle.
While much attention is focused on the
vehicle, a study by Deloitte expands the discussion to an entire “mobility
ecosystem” where investments in infrastructure and technology are needed to
facilitate autonomous vehicles.
Telecommunications companies, such as AT&T, may provide connectivity
technology to assist driver-less vehicles to make real-time decisions based on
information beyond the sensors aboard the vehicle.
It’s a long road. A CNBC article cited Michelle Avary, head of autonomous mobility at the World Economic Forum, as suggesting the industry needs to overcome two big challenges, including technology and business models that can make money. While driverless vehicles could become mainstream at some point, it is likely to take many years before it becomes a reality on mass scale. Like most technological advancements, it is likely that consumers may grow comfortable with advancements over time, much like the incorporation of parking assist and collision warning systems. However, rather than rushing to advance autonomous driving technology, consumers may prefer that automakers devote more immediate investment and resources toward advancing electric and hybrid vehicles, including battery technology that improves range, extends life and lower cost.
Sources:
Statement
by Donald J. Trump, Twitter, Donald J. Trump, March 12, 2019
U.S.
DOT Announces 2017 Roadway Fatalities Down, U.S. Department of
Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Press Release,
October 3, 2018
Self-Driving
Cars: The Impact on People with
Disabilities, Ruderman Family Foundation, Henry Claypool, Amitai Bin-Nun,
Ph.D., Jeffrey Gerlach, January 2017
Millions
of Professional Drivers Will Be Replaced by Self-Driving Vehicles,
NBCNEWS.com, Paul A. Eisenstein, November 5, 2017
News
and Information Reports, Industry Data, American Trucking Association, 2019
Three
in Four Americans Remain Afraid of Fully Self-Driving Vehicles, AAA, AAA
Press Release, March 14, 2019
Average
Age of Automobiles and Trucks in Operation in the United States, Bureau of
Transportation Statistics, 2019
Forces
of change: The future of mobility,
Deloitte Insights, Scott Corwin and Derek M. Pankratz, 2017
AT&T
is Leading the Way on Connecting the Cars of Today and Tomorrow, ATT.com,
Chris Penrose-President, loT Solutions, AT&T, October 31, 2018
Self-driving
cars face two important challenges, says World Economic Forum executive,
CNBC, Saheli Roy Choudhury, July 1, 2019
Two
Big Challenges Face Autonomous Vehicle Industry, The Detroit Bureau, Paul
A. Eisenstein, July 1, 2019



