(3/25/2026 – Los Angeles, CA) The Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed) today released new survey data showing that 57% of Los Angeles voters support autonomous vehicles providing passenger services in the region. The polling was conducted by Bully Pulpit International (BPI) among a representative sample of 500 registered voters in Los Angeles between February 26 and March 1, 2026.
The findings mark a 35-point surge in support since a 2018 SurveyUSA poll found that only 22% of Greater Los Angeles residents approved of the technology.
Since Waymo began providing rides in Los Angeles in November 2024, exposure has become the primary driver of public trust. While 57% of the general electorate approves of autonomous operations, that favorability jumps to 77% among those who have personally ridden in a Waymo.
This link between experience and approval is consistent with trends documented by AdvanceSF, which found 74% of San Francisco voters report being more comfortable with Waymo after having the opportunity to experience the technology on their streets. Similarly, JD Power previously found consumer confidence in fully automated vehicles is 56 percentage points higher among those who have ridden in one (76%) than the general population who have not had the experience (20%).
“The data shows a total reversal in how Los Angeles views autonomous technology,” said BizFed Executive Vice President, Mitchell Vieyra. “In 2018, nearly 60% of residents were opposed to these vehicles. Today, that opposition has collapsed because the technology has proven itself as a safe, reliable transportation option for locals and visitors. We are proud to have AVs moving Angelenos, strengthening our regional economy and showing the world what’s possible in Los Angeles as we prepare to host the 2026 World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl and the 2028 Olympics.”
This confidence is reflected across a broad spectrum of LA commuters, with both frequent public transit users and car owners now broadly supporting autonomous vehicles. Today, a 53% majority categorize the technology as a vital service for the city.
POLL METHODOLODY
Bully Pulpit International (BPI) surveyed a representative sample of 500 registered voters in Los Angeles, CA, February 26 – March 1, 2026. The survey was conducted using a mixed-method methodology and weighted to ensure demographic representation of the LA electorate. The margin of error is +/- 4 percentage points.
ABOUT LOS ANGELES COUNTY BUSINESS FEDERATION (BIZFED)
Founded in 2008, the Los Angeles Business Federation (BizFed) is a massive, mobilizing grassroots alliance based in Los Angeles, California uniting 245 diverse business groups and mobilizing 420,000 employers with five million employees across chambers of commerce, trade associations, minority business groups, economic development organizations, business improvement districts, and other business groups to advocate for policies and projects that strengthen the regional economy. BizFed’s network of investing and nonprofit member committees include Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Olympics; California Air Resources Board & South Coast Air Quality Management District; Energy & Environment; Goods Movement, Transportation & Mobility; Health Care & Life Sciences; Housing, Land Use, Development, Real Estate & CEQA; Polling & Messaging; Responsible Governance; Small Business & Employment; Water; and Workforce Development, Education & Anti-Poverty bizfed.org.
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Media Contact: BizFed Communications Director, Elizabeth Daubel, elizabeth.daubel@bizfed.org