Interest In Self-Driving Cars Is A Self-Driving Phenomenon

The buzz about autonomous vehicles – or self-driving cars – is reaching a dull roar.

The public appetite for the technological leap to self-driving cars is theoretically very strong. However as we have seen after decades about hype about electric cars, consumer interest in new technology far out-paces actual demand.

And yet the chatter about the mysterious new electric Faraday Future, a Chinese financed Los Angeles start-up, set for an early January unveiling, is all about its anticipated autonomous features.

Ford, which has been testing self-driving cars for years, is expected to announce a partnership to build some of Google’s autonomous fleet.

Mercedes-Benz is touting new autonomous E200 and E300 models due for 2017 while Audi readies a self-driving A8 sedan.

As an evolutionary technology, autonomous capabilities are already in daily use in many Cadillac, Infiniti, Lexus, Acura, Volvo, BMW and other premium models, in the form of collision avoidance, lane departure guidance, adaptive cruise control, park assist and emergency braking features.

In fact car companies are somewhat reticent to tout existing autonomous capabilities in their cars because of the complex legal issues that inevitably accompany this new era.