Nearly 75% of people surveyed by AlixPartners say they'd be interesting in an autonomous, AKA self-driving car.
The number jumps to 90% if the self-driving car includes the option of letting a human take control if deemed necessary.
Mark Wakefield of AlixPartners says he thinks his survey found more interest in self-driving cars because of the way they phrased the questions. The survey provided details about the positives of self-driving cars, in addition to the negatives.
"There's probably a bit too much "scaring" going on (in other surveys)," says Wakefield, "and there isn't a product to actually touch and feel and experience."
More people also think tech companies should develop and provide the software for self-driving cars, rather than automobile companies. Forty-one percent of people say Silicon Valley would be the preferred provider of autonomous vehicle technology, compared to 36% who say automakers would be better.
Wakefield says autonomous vehicles could erode the image of certain brands more than others. Brands like Toyota and Honda, which have a reputation for reliability and safety, would probably do pretty well if they offered an autonomous vehicle. But "performance" brands like BMW, which rely heavily on the driving experience as a selling point, could see their images suffer.
*Editor's note: This survey was conducted before yesterday's news that a Tesla driver in Florida was killed while his vehicle was in "autopilot" mode. The National Highway Transportation Safety Board is investigating the death.
