I expect the opposite. With self-driving cars the cost of an Uber drops significantly. Instead of more cars we will end up with less cars at higher utilization. Why would you personally own a car when Uber is 10x cheaper for all use cases of a personal vehicle?
I'd be more worried about what happens when all cars are controlled by 2 massive tech companies.
At least in the US, people generally aren't all that price sensitive about their car. They spend a lot more money on cars than they strictly need to and I don't expect that to change. There are exceptions though (NYC is a big one).
If anything, the kinds of personalization you will be able to do with something like the car in the article are pretty big. I could see people buying them like they buy their phones. Pay $200 / month and get a new car every two years.
> Why would you personally own a car
For me, it's because shared cars are usually nasty inside. Plus, the pandemic has me thinking about the safety of shared spaces. My car is an extension of my home and I feel safe in it.
> what happens when all cars are controlled by 2 massive tech companies
Why would the car companies even sell cars for shared use? Setting up a company like Uber has never been easier and it's getting more easy all the time. Why wouldn't the car companies create their own car share services?
Automated driving will also prompt new, more agile forms of package delivery (imagine a package being shepherded from the Amazon warehouse shelf to your door with zero human participation) which will undoubtedly result in more vehicles on the road.
I am a car owner, but I'd seriously consider eliminating it if other options were convenient and cost effective. I've had my car for just about 15 years now. I am waiting for an electric option that will be a suitable replacement.
I'd be more worried about what happens when all cars are controlled by 2 massive tech companies.