Robotaxis still not mainstream: high levels of distrust persist in the US

Most Americans remain cautious about fully autonomous ride-hailing services, according to a study by Electric Vehicle Intelligence Report. The survey was conducted in March 2026 and included 2,081 respondents, highlighting that robotaxis are still far from being widely accepted as a mainstream transport option.

Skepticism persists even under “perfect safety” conditions

When asked directly about their willingness to use robotaxis, more than half of respondents — 53% — said they were not willing to do so. An additional 26% stated they would not consider the option at all, regardless of circumstances.

Even in a hypothetical scenario where autonomous vehicles are considered completely safe, trust levels remain limited: 42% would still refuse to use robotaxis, while another 22% would rule out the option entirely. This suggests that concerns extend beyond safety alone.

Traditional taxis still strongly preferred

When given a choice between a robotaxi and a conventional taxi with a driver, only 12% of respondents preferred the autonomous option. The majority — 56% — opted for a human-driven vehicle.

Cost advantages also failed to shift preferences significantly. Even when robotaxis were presented as cheaper, only 19% chose them, while 48% preferred a more expensive ride with a driver. The remaining respondents were undecided.

Notably, 32% said they would still choose a human driver even if robotaxis were both cheaper and guaranteed to be safe.

Only 5% of respondents said they are ready to use robotaxis at present.

Widespread skepticism toward Tesla’s autonomous systems

The study also highlights significant distrust toward technologies developed by Tesla. 81% of respondents agreed with a court ruling stating that the terms Autopilot and Full Self-Driving may be misleading.

63% believe that drivers using Full Self-Driving do not pay sufficient attention to the road, while 32% think such systems generally reduce driver focus.

Tesla robotaxis face the highest level of concern

A separate section of the survey focused on Tesla’s robotaxi services. 87% of respondents expressed concerns about their safety, 72% said it reduces trust in the company, and 69% would not consider using such services.

In addition, 84% of participants opposed the idea of removing a driver or safety operator from robotaxis, and 81% believe such services should not operate without a human present in the vehicle.