The survey revealed another critical piece of information: serious misconceptions about autonomous vehicles. One in ten American adults surveyed thinks they can buy a new car that drives itself while they sleep. Obviously, that’s not true, and this clearly reveals a marketing problem automakers need to resolve quickly.
Respondents further indicated the name carmakers have given their self-driving systems are problematic. How so? They think they can fall asleep at the wheel. It’s just not Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving creating confusion.
Volvo’s Pilot Assist and Nissan’s Pro Pilot were also singled out. All of these systems are rated at Level 2, meaning drivers must still have both hands on the steering wheel at all times, ready to assume complete control at a moment’s notice. Only Mercedes-Benz has officially achieved Level 3 to date, and it’s only been approved for use in Nevada.
The tech will only be available on two high-end and pricey models, the 2024 S-Class and the 2024 EQS Sedan.