Experts Dave Blakely, Jeff Peters, and K. Venkatesh Prasad came together to talk about what's coming next in transportation, during the Future of Mobility webinar. Dave Blakely, Mach49's EVP, pointed out that self-driving cars and systems "have so much potential for our future," covering everything from getting around on the ground to flying. But, he warned that a lot of resistance, fueled by misinformation, could slow down the roll-out and acceptance of these lifesaving technologies. In fact, just 9% of Americans say they trust self-driving cars, according to a March 2023 poll by AAA. Getting past this reluctance to embrace change is a key hurdle we need to overcome.

K. Venkatesh Prasad, SVP and Chief Disruptive Growth Officer at the Center for Automotive Research, shared concerns about false stories holding back progress (such as the widespread belief that self-driving tech allows drivers to sleep behind the wheel). He also talked about the inherent inefficiency of big personal cars from both an energy and safety point of view. As Prasad asked, "How can we actually get around, do what we want to do, and have all the fun we want to have, without necessarily having this huge mass around us?" We really need to find a way to balance convenience, safety, and efficiency in future transport solutions.

Jeff Peters, Partner at Ibex Investors, highlighted how fundamental transport is to human life and the running of economies. However, he pointed out the money and work-intensive nature of the industry, questioning its ability to grow, especially in western countries. Automation offers chances here, but how to use it is still unclear. The challenges around the future of mobility not only keep Jeff up some nights, he declared, but also keep him in a job. We need to tackle these issues head-on by carefully adopting new technologies, according to the investor.

So, how can we look to the future of mobility with optimism? The road ahead promises improvements that will make getting around more efficient, safe, fair, and green. Just imagine what we could do with all of the parking lots in our cities, if we didn’t need them anymore. Or how much time you would get back in your day, if you could spend your commute without keeping an eye on the road. However, a reluctance to break away from the status quo, could delay real progress. By recognizing worries while highlighting the huge potential, we can all work together to responsibly shape the future of mobility. 

Even though there's still uncertainty about how disruptive growth will change transport, the enthusiasm of pioneers like Jeff, Dave and Prasad drives the industry in a positive direction (pun very much intended).