[FrojoS]

This is a great point that I haven't heard yet. Reducing the cost by a factor of 4 might be a bit to optimistic though.

[stretchwithme]

It may very well be overly optimistic.

But many features of today's automobile are there because of human needs for performance. Optimize for efficiency for a moped-like 3 wheeled vehicle and you may get something completely different.

  http://www.niutoday.info/2011/09/14/supermileage-team-proves-nation’s-best-again/

I'm not saying cars will actually be like this, but robotic vehicles won't need mirrors or more than one seat or even a steering wheel. A lot of things are could change.