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.
Funny how salaries NEVER keep up with technology. Technology is making us poorer not richer. When I was growing up you had a phone bill, an electric bill and a mortgage. Now add DSL/data, satellite/cable TV, cell phone bill - it really adds up. Without paying for all of this crap I'd be retired already.
Now we want exotic robo cars. Good grief.
“And all of this *may be* far cheaper than what you pay now, as a percentage of your income, on total cost of ownership for your car. It *may be* safer, faster, more convenient, and cheaper than having a single car today, but it will be *different* than every family member having his or her own car and chauffeur.”
And less free. Unless I can arbitrarily control its cost and destination at any point in the unmonitored ride, I’ll still opt for a 6-cylinder+, human-controlled car with self-drive assist.
FWIW, I see self-driving cars as the backdoor way to get the US to adopt European levels of citizen control.
This is America -- and as we say here in Texas, "Yo're eat plumb up with the dumb@$$!"
I don't share your vision this will be popular on a grand scale simply because most people have to drive to work and run errands. It might work for big city millennial types that work near where they live and can't afford to maintain AND park their cars.