New study shows consumers are ready for self-driving cars
The World Economic Forum, working with the Boston Consulting Group, recently carried out an extensive study into how consumers around the world perceive self-driving vehicles. The study involved four-hour-long focus groups in Singapore, Berlin, and London, as well as extensive online surveys with inhabitants of cities in 10 different countries. The results of the study show that consumers in developing countries were more eager to try self-driving cars than those in developed nations, and rather surprisingly, the idea is quite unpopular in Germany and Japan. Another interesting insight is that 46% of respondents said they would prefer to buy a self-driving car from a "traditional" global automaker rather than from a tech company or a new automaker. However, 69% said they might prefer a self-driving car produced by a traditional automaker in cooperation with a tech company.

Statista

As you can see, generally speaking, consumers in developing countries were more eager to try self-driving cars than those in developed nations. Somewhat surprisingly, the idea was especially unpopular in Germany and Japan.

There were more intriguing insights in the study's results.

The No. 1 reason why people want self-driving cars

The study's authors said that they were surprised by how many people were very open to trying and buying a self-driving car. But given that the respondents were city dwellers, perhaps it's not such a surprise when we look at the reason most often given for wanting a self-driving car: not having to park it.

As anyone who has driven in a city knows, finding on-street parking can be a huge hassle. The idea that the car can drop you off at your destination and then go find a parking spot on its own has some big appeal.

Other benefits cited by a significant number of respondents: The ability to multi-task during a commute, and letting the car handle traffic jams. (The automakers are already on that last one: Mercedes' Intelligent Drive system is intended to be used in slow-moving highway traffic.)

More insights: 46% of respondents said that they would prefer to buy a self-driving car from a "traditional" global automaker rather than from a tech company or a new automaker. But 69% said they might prefer a self-driving car produced by a traditional automaker in cooperation with a tech company.

Consumers also think that self-driving cars will be battery-electric hybrids or fully electric, and many are willing to pay up to $5,000 more for a car with self-driving capabilities. But... only 35% percent of the survey participants who were parents said that they'd be willing to let their kids ride in a self-driving car without an adult.

So what does all this mean?

I think it means that people, generally speaking, are curious about the technology, and willing to give it a try. A lot of the people surveyed said that they weren't interested. But keep in mind that almost nobody has tried a self-driving car yet. As more people get firsthand experience with the technology, it's likely to become more popular (assuming that it works well.)

Long story short: If the automakers and Silicon Valley can make this technology safe, reliable, and not outrageously expensive, it looks like they'll find plenty of people willing to give it a try.

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The article New Study: Consumers Are Ready for Self-Driving Cars originally appeared on Fool.com.

John Rosevear owns shares of General Motors. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A shares) and Tesla Motors. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days . We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .

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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.