Overview

• A representative Bitkom survey published Sept. 8 finds 57% can imagine privately using a self-driving car.
• Willingness is highest for urban public transport, with 72% open to autonomous U- or S-Bahn and 70% to autonomous buses.
• Acceptance drops for longer trips, with 44% open to regional or long-distance autonomous trains and 27% to autonomous flights.
• Views on the technology’s trajectory are split, with 53% expecting a future standard and 43% calling it overrated hype.
• Bitkom’s president says Germans are not generally technoskeptic, citing pilots in Germany and abroad that demonstrate the technology’s potential.