The Mobility Study 2024, conducted by infas on behalf of Continental, shows a high level of acceptance for autonomous trucks. Particularly in countries such as China (92%) and the USA (62%), people expect driverless trucks to become a reality soon. In Germany, 47% of respondents see autonomous trucks as a solution to the driver shortage and believe that they could improve traffic flow. Despite these advantages, there are still safety concerns in many countries, particularly in Japan and Europe. In China, on the other hand, there is more confidence in autonomous trucks.
„We are delighted that the majority of respondents already see the benefits of autonomous trucks. With our technologies, we are helping to further increase the acceptance of autonomous trucks,“ says Philipp von Hirschheydt, CEO of the Automotive sector, commenting on the results.
Continental is working closely with the US company Aurora to bring a scalable Level 4 system for autonomous trucks to market by 2027. This system will be supported by advanced sensors and a safety infrastructure designed to ensure resilience. While autonomous vehicles are widely accepted, especially among younger people and in countries with advanced driver assistance systems, there are still challenges in overcoming safety concerns. The study makes it clear that the increasing prevalence of automated cars could pave the way for autonomous trucks. The publication of the current Continental Mobility Study with the complete results from all five participating countries will take place in October 2024. (oe)
