Skip to main content

Driving dynamics ‘vastly influence car purchase decisions in Europe’

Driving dynamics play a huge role in the purchasing decisions of vehicle owners in Europe. While safety and reliability are top priorities, driving dynamics-related capabilities such as manoeuvrability and ride quality rank high in importance among consumers looking to buy a car. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, European Consumers’ Attitude towards Driving Dynamics Technologies, finds that urban male customers are willing to pay a higher than average price to upgrade driving dynamics technologies. Wo
April 24, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
Driving dynamics play a huge role in the purchasing decisions of vehicle owners in Europe. While safety and reliability are top priorities, driving dynamics-related capabilities such as manoeuvrability and ride quality rank high in importance among consumers looking to buy a car.
 
New analysis from 2097 Frost & Sullivan, European Consumers’ Attitude towards Driving Dynamics Technologies, finds that urban male customers are willing to pay a higher than average price to upgrade driving dynamics technologies. Women with higher than average income are most often prepared to pay a premium for safety features.
 
“Consumers across car segments agree on the top features required for an improved driving experience,” said Frost & Sullivan Automotive and Transportation Program manager Prana T Natarajan. “Secure handling, road-holding, and control over braking and steering are significant cogs in the wheel of consumer expectations.”
 
E&F segment car owners value steering handling more than smoothness of drive and powertrain features more than fuel or price. Smaller vehicle segment consumers too show interest in and willingness to pay for all-wheel drive (AWD) functionalities.
 
The inclination to pay drops significantly with the increase in price of steering, suspension and AWD technologies. Most consumers in Europe give more importance to value for money and hence look for optimally-priced solution packages.
 
“Technology providers must deploy appropriate pricing strategies to accelerate adoption rates,” suggested Natarajan. “Bundling is likely to be an effective way for driving dynamics solution suppliers to maximise profits on installed systems and attract potential consumers in Europe.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Euro NCAP to drive adoption of AEB systems for safer cars in Europe
    June 14, 2012
    Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) has published the results of its survey on the availability of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems in Europe and reveals that its vehicle safety rating assessment programme will include AEB technologies in its star rating from 2014. Real world performance data suggests AEB systems can reduce accidents by up to 27 per cent. Although the introduction of these active safety technologies is reducing road deaths and injuries, the availability of AEB in Europe is fa
  • Performance indicators help differentiate between truck tolling systems
    August 20, 2014
    Traffic Quality Management Karl Ernst Ambrosch talks to ITS International about a new KPI-based methodology for assessing the efficacy of electronic toll collection schemes The debate over which is the ‘best’ solution for applications such as truck tolling is now years old.
  • Uber clean-up - those all-important facts and figures
    September 11, 2020
    Ride-hailing giant says it can switch to all-electric vehicles 'in any major city' by 2030
  • Navigating a path towards greater safety
    May 31, 2013
    Eric Sampson takes a look at why the European Union’s eCall system is taking rather longer to arrive than it should. There’s an old story about the person who asked an Irishman for directions and after much thought he responded: “If you’re going there from here it would be better to start from somewhere else.” This came to mind when I was recently reflecting on eCall and wondering when it will come - some stakeholders say the answer is never. So despite years of workshops and discussions, eCall is still not