Cars are already a maintenance nightmare with the technology they have today. Adding more on top of it makes them even more of a nightmare. The 5 year depreciation will be horrible. As long as we retain the option of driving it manually when the shit breaks then I am good. But the a-holes that run the world will probably get rid of that option.
Two vehicles approaching each other on a curved highway on a hill, traveling 70 mph each in opposite directions, relying on an Internet of Things for their precision passing one another an missing each other by less than 2 ft. what could possibly go wrong? It’s not like our PCs ever fail nor the internet fail.....
I don’t think many people will own cars when this is fully implemented. Sure, at first cars will have the ability to drive themselves or be driven by humans.
Later, cars will be mostly a service. Dealerships will disappear.
Shorter commutes or simply budget-conscious travelers will probably use no-frills cars. But where will these trips go? The grocery store? Groceries will probably be delivered to your door.
For longer trips, you may walk out your door, anywhere, and immediately step into a luxury vehicle with amenities similar to an office, living room, or dining room. It will drive you anywhere. There will be a service industry that caters to riders.
And all of this will be far cheaper than what you pay now, as a percentage of your income, on total cost of ownership for your car. It will be safer, faster, more convenient, and cheaper than having a single car today, but it will be better than every family member having his or her own car and chauffeur.