According to a study by JD Power, trust in robotaxis is higher among users

There's good news for robotaxi operators: people who have ridden in robotaxis really like them.

According to a new study from automotive research firm JD Power, robotaxi passengers rated the experience 8.53 out of 10, with the main factor influencing the experience being “vehicle technology.”

JD Power also found that “consumer confidence” in riding in a robotaxi – defined as a fully automated, self-driving vehicle – was 56% higher (76%) among those who had ever ridden one, compared to those who who have never driven it before (20). %). JD Power found that non-drivers in cities with robotaxis also had higher consumer trust than the average non-driver, at 34%.

Researchers at JD Power said these are signs that “experience continues to be a major factor in trust and acceptance.”

“The robotaxi segment is still on everyone's mind as most people are unfamiliar with robotaxi brands and have not developed a clear associative picture,” said Kathleen Rizk, senior director of user experience benchmarking and technology at JD Power, in the report. “Industry leaders like Cruise and Waymo, as well as lesser-known companies like Zoox, May Mobility and Motional, must look beyond their operational markets and find ways to educate and build trust with all consumers.”

JD Power conducted its Robotaxi Experience Study – already in its second year. It is based on responses from 3,773 respondents, including 773 consumers living in cities with robotaxi services (Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco), as well as a national study sample of 3,000 consumers.

The small sample size is indicative of the state of the robotaxi market, which is small but growing. Alphabet's Waymo recently expanded its offerings to Austin and Atlanta through its partnership with Uber.

Cruise, operated by GM, resumed service in Phoenix and Dallas in May this year with assisted rides and also signed a deal with Uber to have its vehicles summoned through Uber's app. Zoox, owned by Amazon, is currently testing its robotaxis and said its service will soon be available to public riders in Las Vegas.

And then there is Tesla. The EV giant is hosting its robotaxi event titled “We, Robot” on Thursday evening, where the company is expected to unveil a fully autonomous Cybercab electric vehicle that will form the basis for its robotaxi. Tesla is also expected to unveil a software service that would allow current Tesla electric vehicles with fully autonomous driving to be added to a ride-sharing robotaxi fleet.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has basically said that Tesla is betting on autonomous driving, AI and robotics. Since the portion of the general public that rides in robotaxis appears to accept them, at least according to JD Power, the assessment of Tesla's robotaxi ambitions could be confirmed.

The story continues

Musk said the robotaxi business could be a $5 trillion market. While that sounds ambitious, analysts at RBC Capital say it could still be worth a whopping $1.7 trillion globally by 2040.

Additionally, RBC expects margins to be well above the typical 5% to 10% in the automotive sector, making the deal all the more attractive for Tesla, which sees itself as more than just an automaker.

Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can keep following him Twitter and further Instagram.

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