I have my doubts about the drastically lowered costs. And, Americans rejected the metric system and elected Trump. Cars, to many, represent freedom, including the “freedom” to bend the rules a little (or a lot, at risk of being caught.) The degree to which that desire for freedom survives is the degree to which people will want cars under their own control, at least when that is desired.
“The degree to which that desire for freedom survives is the degree to which people will want cars under their own control, at least when that is desired.”
True. Sometimes people just go for a drive. People do not always have a destination in mind. Sometimes they take a scenic route. I don’t know how this aspect will fit into the self-driving car scenario. But I imagine that if there is a demand the market will seek to meet that demand in order to compete.