New Study Finds that Gen Y Consumers want Hybrids with Tablets and Smartphone-Like Functions

Echo boomers, Generation Y, Generation Next: whatever you call them, people who were born in the beginning of the 1980’s are now an important demographic group for any company. And their preferences may change the type of cars we will drive in the future.

According to the annual survey conducted by the Deloitte consulting company, Generation Y consumers, who the company describes as those aged from 19 to 31, want their new cars to be hybrids laden with high-tech features.
"This could be the generation that leads us away from traditional gasoline-powered vehicles", comments Deloitte automotive consultant Craig Giffi who oversaw the study.
According to Deloitte, 59 percent of Generation Y consumers questioned replied that they prefer "an electrified vehicle" to any other type of car or truck, with their definition of "electrified”"being mostly a gasoline-electric hybrid.
In comparison, only 37 percent said that they preferred gasoline-only powered models, while 2 percent would rather have an all-electric model.
It seems that car manufacturers are already aware of this, as many of their latest models seem to target this group. At the Detroit Motor Show, for example, Toyota introduced the compact Prius C hybrid.
With a highway driving fuel economy of 53 mpg and a starting price of less than $US19,000, the Prius C, which will be available from this spring, is the cheapest and most frugal non-plug-in hybrid in the market.
Toyota isn’t alone in widening its hybrid range. Ford’s new Fusion mid-size sedan will also be available in hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.
Honda has shown a hybrid concept of the next Accord that will go on sale this fall, while BMW is readying a hybrid variant of the new 3-Series and GM is offering "mild-hybrid" versions of the Chevrolet Malibu and Buick LaCrosse and Regal.
"The cost of ownership is much more important to Gen Y consumers than their parents, and the big variable there is fuel efficiency", comments Ford’s U.S. sales analyst Erich J. Merkle.
Almost three quarters or 73 percent of those questioned said that they preferred touch-screen controls in their cars. They want their vehicles to be available with smartphone applications and, just like their cellphones and tablets, they want to be able to download new content and applications.
Merkle explains that Gen Y consumers find high-tech gadgets equally valuable as cars: "To many young folks, cellphones are just as important as the cars they drive. When it comes to cars, they want something that will work with the technology they carry around in their pockets every day."


Story References: Detroit News

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Non-U.S. Automakers Displeased After President Obama Snubs Them at Washington Auto Show

Non-U.S. Automakers Displeased After President Obama Snubs Them at Washington Auto Show - On Tuesday, January 31, U.S. President Barack Obama’s schedule included a visit to the 2012 Washington Auto Show. The White House informed automakers on a two days’ notice to bring their most fuel-efficient models to the show. Naturally, they obliged. For example, Honda flew in the FCX Clarity from California, Kia brought the Optima hybrid and Mercedes-Benz a fuel-cell car. Carmakers also brought along their top brass to discuss green technologies with the President.
As Bloomberg reports, the problem is that Obama, who had half an hour in his disposal, ignored foreign manufacturers.
Instead, he spent most of his time with domestic brands, posing for the press with the Dodge Dart, the Chevrolet Malibu, the Ford C-MAX Energi, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 (not pretty fuel efficient those two, by the way…).
“When you look at all these cars, it is testimony to the outstanding work that’s been done by workers, American workers, American designers”, said Obama. “The U.S. auto industry is back. The fact that GM is back, number one, I think shows the kind of turnaround that’s possible when it comes to American manufacturing.”
The Association of Global Automakers’ CEO Michael Stanton said that representatives of non-U.S. manufacturers were displeased with the President’s action.
“Many of our members bent over backwards to meet the request from the White House”, said Stanton. “We were just terribly disappointed that the President refused to recognize the commitment that our members and others have made to the manufacturing base of the United States.”
Stanton added that members of the Washington-based Association, which includes Toyota, Honda and Kia, have made investments in excess of US$43 billion to the country and employ more than 80,000 workers.
Ironically, one day later, Honda announced its plans to invest US$100 million to its Ohio transmission plant, which is part of a total investment of half a billion in upgrading the factory in the last 18 months.
John O’Donnel, executive VP of the show organizers, said, “I don’t believe it was an intentional snub. I think he was checking up on the investment he made in the domestics”, referring to the 2009 GM-Chrysler bailout.
White House spokeswoman Sandra Abrevaya declined to comment.
Published by: carscoop