Study by Asahi Kasei What usage scenarios do drivers see for the interior of the autonomous vehicle?

Related Vendors

ASAHI KASEI EUROPE GmbH

FAULHABER Drive Systems

Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA)

Wuxi InfiMotion Technology Co., Ltd.

Autonomous cars are becoming mobile living rooms. This allows car manufacturers to rethink and redesign the entire interior. The preferences of end users in terms of usage scenarios, design and features provide valuable insights into what the car of the future may look like. Asahi Kasei surveyed car users in four automotive markets about their expectations and concerns regarding autonomous vehicles and their perception of sustainability.

When it comes to autonomous driving, vehicle users around the world are conservative: the majority of respondents do not rate a steering wheel and pedals that can be folded away as valuable. The results of the last survey from 2022 are confirmed—even with autonomous vehicles, the majority of users in Germany, the USA and China want a steering wheel and a brake pedal for optional manual control. In Japan, even one in two. In Germany and the USA in particular, this option can help to increase the acceptance of autonomous vehicles. In addition, two out of three drivers in Germany, the USA and China stated that they would continue to watch the traffic when driving a fully autonomous vehicle—movies or video games do not currently play an important role. This is evidence that drivers today still have safety and trust concerns about self-driving cars. These concerns will initially determine the interior design of the vehicles.

Minimize background noise

What is the most appreciated aspect of an autonomous car? Every second car user answered this question with a "quiet interior". This answer correlates with the information on dissatisfaction with the current vehicle: almost one in four users of a battery electric vehicle named "too much noise while driving" as the main annoyance. While the vehicle itself is quieter than a car with a combustion engine, wind, tire, transmission or engine noise—unfamiliar, new noises for the driver that used to be drowned out by engine noise—are becoming increasingly prominent. In autonomous electric vehicles and with more time for other activities, silence will become even more important for end users. In terms of activities while driving in an autonomous vehicle, the majority of drivers worldwide value listening to music and podcasts: 66% in the USA, 61% each in China and Japan and 56% in Germany. Talking to other passengers is equally important. Sleeping or working is less important.

What is sustainable?

A sustainable vehicle is no longer defined solely by the drive technology, but also by the CO2 footprint in production, easily recyclable materials and even sustainable production along the entire value chain. Buyers' understanding of sustainability is growing and is also increasing in the purchasing process. The definition of a sustainable vehicle is extremely different in the various markets. Respondents in the western markets define a sustainable car by the use of recyclable materials and sustainable production along the value chain, while for car buyers in China and Japan, the drive technology is the decisive factor. The relevance of the topic for purchasing decisions is particularly evident in Western countries: 35% of all respondents in Germany and the USA would switch their car brand to a more sustainable manufacturer in order to support greener mobility. (se)

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