Latest Driver Technology is 'Very Important' to 1 in 3 People Across 17 Countries [GfK Study]

Nuremberg, Germany (ots/PRNewswire) -

Independent global researcher, GfK, has released findings showing
which vehicle features, from a given list, people see as being 'very
important' in a vehicle. Hygiene factors of safety in an accident,
reliability, fuel economy and low running costs naturally top of the
list. However, significant numbers state that the latest driver
technology and passenger technology are 'very important' to them -
and the percentage of people claiming this increases notably with
income.

Over a third (36 percent) of the online population across 17
countries see having the latest driver technology in a vehicle (e.g.,
steering or parking assist, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry or
ignition) as 'very important', and over a quarter (28 percent) say
the same for the latest passenger technology (audio or video
streaming, social network connectivity, etc.).

Importance of vehicle technology increases with income

Looking at these results by income - i.e. breaking each countries'
earners down into quartiles - there is notable difference in the
numbers that say having the latest technology in their vehicle is
'very important'. On average, 44 percent of people in the high income
quartile (the top quarter of the total income in each country), see
the latest driver tech as 'very important', compared to just 30
percent of people in the low income quartile (the bottom quarter of
total income within each country). Likewise, for the latest passenger
tech, 35 percent of those in the high income quartile say it's very
important, versus 22 percent on those in the low income quartlie.

The effect of income on what people see as important in their
vehicle is seen across a range of features, not just the vehicle
technology - in particular the quality of workmanship, a comfortable
interior, a spacious interior, a powerful engine, the reputation of
the manufacturer. In other areas such as the fuel economy or
environmentally friendly, the results are much more even across all
income bands.

Driver technology is most important in Brazil, China and Korea

Brazil (48 percent), China (43 percent) and Korea (42 percent)
have the highest overall percentages saying that the latest driver
technology is 'very important'. And for the latest passenger
technology, China (37 percent), Brazil (36 percent) and Mexico (30
percent) have the highest percentages saying it is 'very important'.

Siegfried Hoegl, GfK's Global Head of Automotive Research,
comments, "The value of these findings for vehicle manufacturers lies
in being able to assess precisely which features different consumer
segments say appeal most to them - and adjust marketing content and
product development to match those aspirations. By combining this
attitudinal data with analysis of actual sales across different
markets and consumer segments, or insights from running in-depth car
clinics, we help our clients to fine-tune their customer insights to
the maximum extent - both globally and at country-specific level."

Download full findings for each of the 17 countries, visit
http://www.gfk.com/global-studies/global-study-overview/

ots Originaltext: GfK SE
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

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