So I was questioning the other night on whether the car industry has really thought through the impact of driver-less cars on their business model.

For many families Driver-less tech could mean that instead of needing to run 2 or 3 vehicles a family could share just one, operating it ‘on call’ like a private taxi.

Then a friend then asked what if you take the idea one step further ? Removing the driver removes one layer of cost while optimised driving via software will minimise maintenance so reducing costs further. Perhaps a centralised fleet of such vehicles called ‘on demand’, taxi style, will create the real possibility that perhaps families won’t need to buy cars at all ?

The upshot could be the creation of an effective mass transport system that works even in rural area’s.

Take that one step further and wonder who would be interested in a business like that ? It has the potential to be huge so perhaps the car industry will fight it’s corner and try and grab this new market.

However I suspect that the prime driver (!) will be Google who would use it as another source of data collection. Where you go, how long you stay, who you travel with will all add to their existing metrics and improve their ability to sell targeted advertising. Given past form such services would be subsidised or free to make them even more compelling.

Driver-less Technology is certainly one of the upcoming ‘disruptive technologies’ which is going to have significant social consequences. Think of how the employment prospects might change in the logistics industry.

It’s not just Taxi drivers who may be out of a job….