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

  • Embedded connectivity delivers real time travel information
    February 3, 2012
    Ton Brand describes the GSM Association's Embedded mTelematics programme. As the world's roads become increasingly crowded, consumers and businesses are demanding better real-time information to help them both avoid traffic congestion and make smarter use of public transport. Embedding mobile connectivity directly into vehicles can enable drivers and passengers to see live traffic flows in their localities, as well as the expected arrival time of the next bus, ferry or tram
  • Europe’s city drivers ‘spending up to US$27 an hour on owning a car’
    January 20, 2016
    Recent research carried out by Opinion Matters for Zipcar among 2,500 car owner/drivers in London, Barcelona, Paris and Madrid, who drive regularly within these cities indicates that drivers are spending up to US$27 an hour owning a car. The research, which was based specifically on city drivers that own a car worth up to US$21,000 at time of purchase tallied up typical car costs such as road tax, maintenance, insurance, petrol and parking, as well as taking into account depreciation over the year. It
  • The case for integrating urban traffic control and parking
    February 3, 2012
    Although urban traffic control and parking management are inextricably linked in so many ways, there remain fundamental differences which undermine closer integration. Car parking guidance systems can have a significant, positive impact on congestion in town and city centres, however conflicting business models still stand in the way of the more profound integration of car parking management and Urban Traffic Control (UTC) systems.
  • Schneider Electric to acquire Telvent for $2 billion
    January 27, 2012
    Schneider Electric has signed a definitive agreement with Telvent GIT to make a cash tender offer for all of Telvent's shares at a price of $40 per share, which represents a premium of 36% to Telvent's average share price over the last 3 months.