83% of Brits believe all cars will be autonomous in 120 years, research reveals

83% of Brits believe that in 120 years, cars will be autonomous and 51% think they will levitate, according to research from Goodyear.

To mark its 120th anniversary, Goodyear conducted its ‘Transport of the Future’ survey to discover what the future holds for us, according to the UK public.

The research suggests that big changes are in order, with 23% of respondents going so far as to predict that our cities will resemble the world of the iconic sci-fi film, Blade Runner.

According to 74% cars will be completely self-driving, while 51% think vehicles will levitate via magnets. A more sensible 88% believe all cars will have Wi-Fi.

Goodyear’s marketing director Andy Marfleet said: “When you consider that horses were one of the most significant means of transportation in 1898, the idea that transport in another 120 years could be reminiscent of that in modern-day science fiction doesn’t feel so far-fetched.”

Public transport is believed to revolutionise cities, as only 17% think everyone will still use personal cars. Respondents predict cities will become pedestrianised, accessible via monorails according to 26% while 23% see trains operating on different levels depending on speed.

It’s also time to delve further underground, as 23% of people believe that tunnels will allow road-access to cities via electric cars, leaving the ground clear for other methods of transport including bicycles.

The idea of layered cityscapes was particularly prevalent, with 22% suggesting that inner-city space will be at such a premium that condensable modes of transport will be developed in order to economise and streamline.

More than a quarter (28%) anticipated that same-hour deliveries will have been rolled out nationwide.

To achieve these delivery times, more than a third (35%) believe that door-to-door deliveries will be made by drones, while a fifth (19%) envision self-driving robots operating from a central depot.

“From leasing personal cars and maintaining a retail delivery fleet to the rise of shared mobility and delivery drones, the coming years will completely change the face of fleet management. It will be fascinating to see where technology takes us,” said Marfleet.