FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Many Consumers Suspicious of Robotaxis

New study shows little trust, though many who ride think better of the experience.

October 19, 2023
Many Consumers Suspicious of Robotaxis

Study found 47% of people who use the service gain more trust in the taxis.

IMAGE: Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio

2 min to read


Consumers in general don’t trust driverless taxis, whether they hail them or not, a new study found.

The first U.S. Robotaxi Experience Study by J.D. Power shows just 27% of people who don’t ride in driverless cabs are comfortable sharing roads with them and that only 20% of all consumers are OK with them being tested on nearby roadways.

Ad Loading...

J.D. Power conducted the nationwide study in July. Though the overall findings paint a dark picture of consumer views on the technology, the researcher actually calls robotaxi riders ambassadors of the automated technology. It found that 47% of people who use the service gain more trust in the taxis and that 51% of riders with an already high level of trust maintained that trust during a driverless ride. Just 2% of riders lost trust during a ride.

“These positive firsthand experiences can help educate other consumers, providing balance to news coverage that often focuses solely on the negative aspects of AVs,” J.D. Power said in a press release on the study.

Driverless taxis operating in San Francisco and a couple of other U.S. metropolitan areas have drawn news coverage when the deployments haven’t gone well.

In August, San Francisco became the first major U.S. city to allow them to operate round-the-clock. In short order, a line of them led to a traffic jam, blocking a city street. This month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a preliminary probe into whether Cruise taxis are operating with necessary caution around pedestrians.

Most riders try self-driving cabs for the novelty of the experience rather than for practicality, J.D. Power said, pointing out that the technology must move beyond that stage to gain wide acceptance. It said almost 60% of riders and nonriders don’t think the cabs drive better than people, despite the idea that they improve road safety.

Ad Loading...

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today

More F&I

Laptop computer on a desk with a notepad and pen next to it and a whiteboard in the background
Digital•by Rick McCormick•October 15, 2026

AI: Facilitator, Not Fixer, in F&I

The dealerships that thrive in the years ahead will be those that embrace technology while continuing to invest in the people who make customer interactions count.

Read More →
Headshot mockup thumbnail.
F&I•October 1, 2026

Modern Technology Objection Handling

In this video, Trent White shares how to confidently handle technology-based objections by helping customers understand the value of protection, even with modern vehicle technology.

Read More →
man standing in front of podium
F&I•by Lauren Lawrence•October 1, 2026

Consistency at Scale: Driving F&I Performance

With 75 rooftops across the Sunshine State, Morgan Auto Group has proven to Floridians that it knows a thing or two about driving performance in a competitive market. But it didn’t start at the top.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Insurance contract signature page with black inkpen on top
F&I•by Hannah Mitchell•September 22, 2026

Gitty Up on GAP

The foundational finance-and-insurance product hasn’t kept up with the latest conditions for auto dealers. Is the time ripe?

Read More →
Easycare White paper cover See how AI-powered coaching can turn F&I customer conversations into actionable insights that support compliance, performance and profitability
Sponsored•September 8, 2026

How AI-Powered Coaching Is Transforming F&I Performance

See how AI-powered coaching can turn F&I customer conversations into actionable insights that support compliance, performance and profitability

Read More →
Assurant, Sell Value Build Trust, F&I Series, Expert Trainer Trent White
F&I•September 2, 2026

Sell Value, Build Trust

In this video, Trent White explains why selling on value, not fear, builds lasting customer trust, reduces cancellations, and drives long-term success.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
2026 StoneEagle summary
F&I•by Hannah Mitchell•August 31, 2026

F&I Sales Give Dealers First-Half Lift

Product business shored up total profits to avoid an overall revenue tanking as product penetrations held steady, StoneEagle reported.

Read More →
man with white hair and glasses delivering a speech standing next to a podium
F&I•by Lauren Lawrence•August 31, 2026

Targeted Training Drives Results

Today’s technology, instead of threatening F&I managers, can actually make them better, according to an industry veteran who’s watched market setbacks roil the unprepared.

Read More →
Man's hand holding pen over a paper document
F&I•by Justin B. Gasman•August 20, 2026

Double the Change, Double the Chance

When an F&I manager gets a customer refusal, it’s a wise move to tweak more than one thing in the product offering.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Laptop computer, tablet, calculator and notebook on a desk
F&I•by John Tabar•August 20, 2026

Just Do It

F&I managers need training, but instead of resisting application or expecting perfection, they should improve by simply acting on what they learn.

Read More →