{"id":682,"date":"2016-08-08T14:57:28","date_gmt":"2016-08-08T21:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.plm.automation.siemens.com\/t5\/Polarion-Blog\/Self-Driving-Cars-You-May-Not-Need-to-Own-a-Vehicle\/ba-p\/381048"},"modified":"2026-03-26T05:30:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T09:30:01","slug":"self-driving-cars-you-may-not-need-to-own-a-vehicle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/polarion\/self-driving-cars-you-may-not-need-to-own-a-vehicle\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-Driving Cars? You May Not Need to Own a Vehicle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Will you need to own a car in the future? Are self-driving cars going to replace the need for driving and car ownership?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s incredible to think instead of purchasing gas, we could instead buy seat-miles for vehicles parked in public stalls controlled by robots. Technology is becoming even more prominent in modern cars and trucks, driving a looming revolution of autonomy with sensors packed under dashboards and hoods.<\/p>\n

The automotive industry is feeling the technology disruption – so our children and grandchildren may not need to own a car, or even learn how to drive.<\/p>\n

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For more than 50 years, teenagers receiving a driver\u2019s license and cruising around was seen as a rite of passage. That could be changing as autonomous, ride-sharing vehicles would ease traffic, improve safety, and reduce pollution.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to imagine a time when driving a car will be like riding a horse; some of us will choose to do it, but the majority of the population won\u2019t see the need to bother.<\/p>\n

How the Auto Industry Reached This Point<\/STRONG><\/p>\n

It\u2019s easier to envision the future if we take a look back to how we got here. Prior to World War I, there were less than 7 million cars in the United States – and that number quickly ballooned up to 27 million by 1929, with almost one car for every household.<\/p>\n

Car ownership was viewed as a sign of wealth, or pride and independence, but \u201cthere will come a time when driving the car is like riding the horse,\u201d noted futurist Peter Schwartz.<\/p>\n

Auto Industry Facing Multiple Technological Changes<\/STRONG><\/p>\n

Auto industry analysts are curious to see what happens, predicting there will be pressure on dealerships – as car manufacturers, rental companies, and taxi companies try to adjust to a consolidated marketplace.<\/p>\n

The progression of self-driving vehicles is happening rapidly, even if three out of every four American drivers are \u201cafraid\u201d to ride in self-driving vehicles, according to a recent AAA survey.<\/p>\n

What is Ahead for the Auto Industry<\/STRONG><\/p>\n

Traditional automakers are doing their own levels of autonomous technology, but Google will continue to receive much attention. The company has developed modified Lexus SUVs and its own self-driving pod – and earlier this year, they logged over 1 million miles on roads in California, Texas, and Washington.<\/p>\n