• Less noise is considered the biggest advantage, legal uncertainties the biggest disadvantage
• Four out of ten particularly appreciate the increased safety for other road users
• Over a third do not want to give up the fun of driving themselves

Whether travelling to work in a self-driving car, taking an autonomous shuttle to the nearest train station or going on holiday in an autonomous long-distance train: autonomous mobility could soon be part of everyday life. Germans see opportunities in this. 50 per cent expect less traffic noise thanks to adapted driving styles, while 47 per cent expect traffic to flow more smoothly. Around 4 in 10 Germans (43 per cent) expect greater safety for other road users, while 29 per cent expect greater safety for passengers. 37 per cent expect greater driving comfort. In general, autonomous driving is well received in Germany: only 9 per cent say it has no advantages at all. These are the results of a representative survey of 1,004 people aged 16 and over in Germany commissioned by the digital association Bitkom.

Just under a third hope that autonomous vehicles will save drivers time: 31 per cent expect to have more time for entertainment, 29 per cent for tasks such as office work. ‘People in Germany are interested in and open to autonomous mobility. Now we need large-scale model regions to test the technologies in practice in Germany and quickly introduce them into everyday life – as can already be seen in the USA and the United Arab Emirates,’ says Bitkom CEO Dr Bernhard Rohleder.

However, despite all the advantages, Germans also see disadvantages and risks associated with autonomous driving: almost three-quarters (73 per cent) believe that the legal framework is still too uncertain. 63 per cent are afraid of technical problems, and 55 per cent are afraid of possible hacker attacks on vehicle technology. Almost half (49 per cent) trust technology less than humans when it comes to dealing with difficult traffic situations. ‘Modern systems already react more consistently and reliably than humans in many situations. They are not distracted, tired or stressed. Autonomous systems deserve our trust,’ says Rohleder.

42 per cent see high investment costs in transport infrastructure as a disadvantage, and 32 per cent find autonomous mobility generally too expensive. 38 per cent simply do not want to give up the fun of driving themselves. Only 3 per cent see no disadvantages at all.

Note on methodology: The information is based on a representative survey conducted by Bitkom Research on behalf of the digital association Bitkom among 1,004 people aged 16 and over by telephone. The survey took place between calendar weeks 28 and 32 of 2025. The questions were: ‘What do you think are the biggest advantages of self-driving vehicles?’ and ‘What do you think are the disadvantages of self-driving vehicles?’