It's actually probably an easier sell outside of major population centers, especially if marketed as an advanced form of cruise control, which people already use on long, straight shots down country highways.
I think people would be much more inclined to trust self driving tech in these scenarios than in congested traffic with complex intersections and people unexpectedly darting this way and that with little to no warning.
That's more or less where the major auto manufacturers are all headed in the near- to mid-term. I realize a lot of people don't get excited by something that isn't on-demand door-to-door transportation. But it seems fairly obvious that full highway self-driving, especially limited access highway driving, is a much easier problem that is mostly solved today. It could end up being decades ahead of general-purpose everywhere/when autonomy. The only real question in my mind is when you transition from systems that are at least nominally assistive to hands off the wheel under certain conditions.
Detroit is a hotbed of self driving technology right now. The biggest automakers in the world have not been sitting on their hands.
As a guide to midwesteners, it might help to think of them as any other consumer who is driven by economics and convenience when it comes to car purchases.
How do you convince the valley to use self driving tech? Maybe start with putting beds in the back seats since they can't afford exorbitant housing prices.
You have a car show up at their house every morning that's heated and ready to go? Even in car-centric environments people will want to save money and be able to use their phone instead of drive.
Outside the Bay, Ann Arbor & Detroit are the leading cities conducting research on autonomous vehicles thanks to the University of Michigan and the motor industry.
Besides most people have 45 min commutes. If your car came preheated each morning and drove you to work while you take a nap, then people would love it.
