99% of Germans Willing to Use Autonomous Vehicles

A vast majority of Germans are open to using autonomous transportation, with 99 percent of respondents saying they would be willing to try self-driving vehicles in some form, according to a new survey conducted by Bitkom. The findings were presented by Bitkom CEO Ralf Wintergerst during a press conference at the IAA mobility show. Autonomous public transport options like underground and suburban trains (72%) and buses (70%) ranked highest in acceptance, while autonomous cars (57%), ships (34%), and even airplanes (26%) also gained notable support. Despite this openness, the population remains divided on whether autonomous driving will become a future norm. Just over half (53%) believe it will become standard, while 43 percent view it as temporary hype. “Autonomous driving is no longer a utopia. Pilot projects in Germany and progress abroad—especially in the U.S., China, and Singapore—demonstrate the real potential of this technology,” said Wintergerst. The survey also reveals strong enthusiasm for AI in mobility. A significant majority (88%) would like AI assistance in finding parking spaces, and 76% support AI taking over control in emergencies. More than half are open to AI intervening during risky driving behavior. Additional areas of interest include AI-assisted traffic lights (83%), detection of impaired driving (79%), theft protection (77%), and even automatic appointment booking for car repairs (56%). Car sharing is also gaining traction, driven by the high cost of driving (40%) and limited parking availability (12%). Around one-third of Germans already use bikes, e-scooters, or car sharing, with 75% viewing these as viable alternatives to private car ownership. However, rural areas often lack access to such services—something Wintergerst sees as a major area for growth. Two-thirds of drivers indicated they would consider giving up their personal vehicles if public transport options were more convenient, affordable, or better developed. Wintergerst emphasized the urgent need for Germany’s automotive industry to invest in digital transformation and collaborate with tech companies. "Without cooperation with tech companies and large-scale digital innovation, Germany risks falling behind," he warned, citing geopolitical pressures, tariffs, and the EU's planned ban on combustion engines from 2035. Between 2025 and 2029, the industry is expected to invest around €320 billion in areas such as electromobility, battery technology, and digital systems. Yet despite these investments, only 11% of those surveyed believe German carmakers will lead in autonomous driving. Respondents rated Chinese companies like Nio and BYD (33%) and U.S. tech giants such as Google, Apple, Uber, and Tesla (16%) as more likely to succeed. Wintergerst called on policymakers to rethink infrastructure planning. “We need investments not just in asphalt and concrete, but also in bits and bytes,” he said, proposing larger model regions to test new technologies instead of scattered, small-scale pilot programs.