A recent study from US-based global marketing information services firm JD Power has concluded that consumers are not at all that excited about the advent of full self-driving vehicles, or electric cars for that matter. According to the firm, the respondents of its study exhibited a low level of confidence for autonomous vehicles and a neutral level of confidence for electric cars.
The rather surprising results are sourced from JD Power’s Mobility Confidence Index Study, which was conducted in collaboration with SurveyMonkey, which polled 5,749 consumers who were asked about self-driving vehicles, and 5,270 consumers who were asked about all-electric cars. The respective results of both polls were then converted to a 100-point scale. According to the firm, the results were not encouraging, with autonomous vehicles scoring 36 out of 100 and EVs scoring 55 out of 100.
JD Power has not published the full results of its study, though it has noted that the respondents of its self-driving vehicle survey expressed concerns about riding in autonomous cars themselves, as well as being on the road with other drivers while inside a self-driving car. The firm noted that 71% of the study’s respondents were most worried about tech failures that can happen while an autonomous vehicle is in operation, while 57% were concerned about the possibility of the cars getting hacked. It should be noted that 68% of the study’s respondents admitted that they had “little to no knowledge about self-driving vehicles.”
The results of JD Power’s EV survey were a bit better compared to its full self-driving vehicle study. Charging infrastructure and battery range were listed as “critical challenges which must be addressed,” with 64% of respondents having concerns about charging infrastructure, 77% expecting electric vehicles to have a range of at least 300 miles, and 74% stating that they were unwilling to wait more than 30 minutes to replenish 200 miles of range in a charging station.
Amidst these concerns, only 39% of the respondents to JD Power’s survey stated that they were likely to purchase an electric vehicle, while 49% expressed concerns about the reliability of EVs compared to gas-powered cars. Similar to the respondents of the full self-driving vehicle study, 68% of those who were surveyed about electric vehicles stated that they had no experience with EVs at all, with some admitting that they have never sat inside an electric car.
Kristin Kolodge, executive director, driver interaction & human-machine interface research at JD Power, stated that the results of the study were not encouraging for EVs and autonomous driving systems. “Out of the box, these scores are not encouraging. As automakers head down the developmental road to self-driving vehicles and greater electrification, it’s important to know if consumers are on the same road — and headed in the same direction. That doesn’t seem to be the case right now. Manufacturers need to learn where consumers are in terms of comprehending and accepting new mobility technologies—and what needs to be done.” she said.
Considering the aggressive push for electric car adoption and the equally aggressive push for the retirement of the internal combustion engine in regions such as Europe and China, the results of JD Power’s survey, which seemed to be driven by respondents that simply lacked information, are quite interesting, and perhaps not representative of global car buyers as a whole.
If any, the fact that the majority of respondents in both surveys admitted to having little experience or knowledge about EVs and self-driving systems highlights the need for more information dissemination, especially from companies like Tesla. After all, Tesla has already addressed the biggest concerns highlighted by the respondents of JD Power’s EV survey, as evidenced by its Supercharger Network, its proprietary fast-charging technology, and the release of vehicles like the Model S Long Range, which can go 370 miles on a single charge.
Elon Musk
SpaceX issues statement on Starship V3 Booster 18 anomaly
The incident unfolded during gas-system pressure testing at the company’s Massey facility in Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX has issued an initial statement about Starship Booster 18’s anomaly early Friday. The incident unfolded during gas-system pressure testing at the company’s Massey facility in Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX’s initial comment
As per SpaceX in a post on its official account on social media platform X, Booster 18 was undergoing gas system pressure tests when the anomaly happened. Despite the nature of the incident, the company emphasized that no propellant was loaded, no engines were installed, and personnel were kept at a safe distance from the booster, resulting in zero injuries.
“Booster 18 suffered an anomaly during gas system pressure testing that we were conducting in advance of structural proof testing. No propellant was on the vehicle, and engines were not yet installed. The teams need time to investigate before we are confident of the cause. No one was injured as we maintain a safe distance for personnel during this type of testing. The site remains clear and we are working plans to safely reenter the site,” SpaceX wrote in its post on X.
Incident and aftermath
Livestream footage from LabPadre showed Booster 18’s lower half crumpling around the liquid oxygen tank area at approximately 4:04 a.m. CT. Subsequent images posted by on-site observers revealed extensive deformation across the booster’s lower structure. Needless to say, spaceflight observers have noted that Booster 18 would likely be a complete loss due to its anomaly.
Booster 18 had rolled out only a day earlier and was one of the first vehicles in the Starship V3 program. The V3 series incorporates structural reinforcements and reliability upgrades intended to prepare Starship for rapid-reuse testing and eventual tower-catch operations. Elon Musk has been optimistic about Starship V3, previously noting on X that the spacecraft might be able to complete initial missions to Mars.
Investor's Corner
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) received fresh support from Piper Sandler this week after analysts toured the Fremont Factory and tested the company’s latest Full Self-Driving software. The firm reaffirmed its $500 price target, stating that FSD V14 delivered a notably smooth robotaxi demonstration and may already perform at levels comparable to, if not better than, average human drivers.
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Analysts highlight autonomy progress
During more than 75 minutes of focused discussions, analysts reportedly focused on FSD v14’s updates. Piper Sandler’s team pointed to meaningful strides in perception, object handling, and overall ride smoothness during the robotaxi demo.
The visit also included discussions on updates to Tesla’s in-house chip initiatives, its Optimus program, and the growth of the company’s battery storage business. Analysts noted that Tesla continues refining cost structures and capital expenditure expectations, which are key elements in future margin recovery, as noted in a Yahoo Finance report.
Analyst Alexander Potter noted that “we think FSD is a truly impressive product that is (probably) already better at driving than the average American.” This conclusion was strengthened by what he described as a “flawless robotaxi ride to the hotel.”
Street targets diverge on TSLA
While Piper Sandler stands by its $500 target, it is not the highest estimate on the Street. Wedbush, for one, has a $600 per share price target for TSLA stock.
Other institutions have also weighed in on TSLA stock as of late. HSBC reiterated a Reduce rating with a $131 target, citing a gap between earnings fundamentals and the company’s market value. By contrast, TD Cowen maintained a Buy rating and a $509 target, pointing to strong autonomous driving demonstrations in Austin and the pace of software-driven improvements.
Stifel analysts also lifted their price target for Tesla to $508 per share over the company’s ongoing robotaxi and FSD programs.
Elon Musk
SpaceX Starship Version 3 booster crumples in early testing
Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
SpaceX’s new Starship first-stage booster, Booster 18, suffered major damage early Friday during its first round of testing in Starbase, Texas, just one day after rolling out of the factory.
Based on videos of the incident, the lower section of the rocket booster appeared to crumple during a pressurization test. Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
Booster test failure
SpaceX began structural and propellant-system verification tests on Booster 18 Thursday night at the Massey’s Test Site, only a few miles from Starbase’s production facilities, as noted in an Ars Technica report. At 4:04 a.m. CT on Friday, a livestream from LabPadre Space captured the booster’s lower half experiencing a sudden destructive event around its liquid oxygen tank section. Post-incident images, shared on X by @StarshipGazer, showed notable deformation in the booster’s lower structure.
Neither SpaceX nor Elon Musk had commented as of Friday morning, but the vehicle’s condition suggests it is likely a complete loss. This is quite unfortunate, as Booster 18 is already part of the Starship V3 program, which includes design fixes and upgrades intended to improve reliability. While SpaceX maintains a rather rapid Starship production line in Starbase, Booster 18 was generally expected to validate the improvements implemented in the V3 program.
Tight deadlines
SpaceX needs Starship boosters and upper stages to begin demonstrating rapid reuse, tower catches, and early operational Starlink missions over the next two years. More critically, NASA’s Artemis program depends on an on-orbit refueling test in the second half of 2026, a requirement for the vehicle’s expected crewed lunar landing around 2028.
While SpaceX is known for diagnosing failures quickly and returning to testing at unmatched speed, losing the newest-generation booster at the very start of its campaign highlights the immense challenge involved in scaling Starship into a reliable, high-cadence launch system. SpaceX, however, is known for getting things done quickly, so it would not be a surprise if the company manages to figure out what happened to Booster 18 in the near future.
SpaceX issues statement on Starship V3 Booster 18 anomaly
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
