Originally Posted by
tandempower
Proliferation of automated cars would shift the means of funding and distribution of cars. Dealerships would lose business because taxi operating companies would buy and service the cars shipped directly from manufacturers. Local government would probably gain more legitimacy in regulating the number of cars on the roads because they wouldn't be curtailing individual rights/freedom but rather just regulating the public transit business, which they already do to a large extent.
Aren't you a "free market" guy?
If people buy into the notion of just summoning a car when they need it, many may also buy into ride sharing. Cars could even be designed with shields between passengers, the way they are used in some cabs to separate the driver and pasengers, making people feel safe riding with strangers. With aritificially intelligent computer dispatchers deploying them efficiently, we (or our progeny) may end up with a lot fewer cars on the road. As a result there may be less need to regulate and limit them the way we now do with taxis. A range of entrepreneurs will own one or many cars and "plug them into the net". If they aren't making a living due to too much competition or letting their vehicles get too shabby, they will drop off the system.
EDIT: linked to 5 year prediction thread
http://www.bikeforums.net/living-car...l#post18383297