Most interested in self-driving cars, but safety is a concern, survey says

When fully autonomous cars become ready to sell, consumers around the globe -- particularly in Asia -- may be ready to buy, but many of them still have concerns, according to a new survey by the University of Michigan. Almost 100 percent of Chinese and Indian consumers surveyed said they were at least slightly interested in owning a self-driving car, the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute said in a statement on Thursday. The survey by researchers Brandon Schoettle and Michael Sivak asked about 3,200 people in China, India, Japan, Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. about their concerns and likelihood to purchase a completely self-driving vehicle.

Researchers concluded that although drivers have concerns about self-driving cars, most would be at least slightly interested in owning them. In China, 96 percent of respondents said they were interested. Indian participants agreed, with 95 percent.

Japan followed with 77 percent of respondents who would consider giving it a try, while the Australia had 68 percent. Of those polled in the U.S., 66 percent were interested, while 63 percent in the U.K. showed interest.