Arthur D. Little Study: How China Became the Leading Market in the Automotive Industry

In recent years, the People's Republic of China and the automotive industry have developed into leaders in the mobility trends of tomorrow. An expansion of Chinese manufacturers into Europe is increasingly evident. The consulting company Arthur D. Little's analysis shows that the openness of European buyers towards Chinese electric vehicles strongly depends on the respondents' current automotive brand: For example, the willingness to switch was significantly higher among European customers of Kia (81%), Hyundai (80%), and Toyota (71%) than among owners of European brands such as Skoda (39%), Renault (49%), or Volkswagen (57%). Acceptance for purchasing Chinese electric vehicles is now high worldwide - but especially in emerging markets. Assuming identical lifecycle costs, the battery vehicle has globally become the first preference for a future new car purchase at 48%, while only 14% are considering buying a purely non-electrified combustion engine. Doubts about the longevity of the battery are the most frequently cited reservations against purchasing a purely electric vehicle.
 

Autonomous Driving: Skepticism in Europe and the USA - Hype in China and India

European and US consumers remain skeptical toward the mega-trend of "autonomous driving." On a scale from -100 to +100, the reluctance is still significant at -17 in both regions. The picture is entirely different in Asia: Indian consumers are particularly interested, with a score of +47, while China and Saudi Arabia follow with +29 and +28, respectively. Globally, it is evident that autonomous and automated vehicles enjoy particularly high acceptance in global megacities. Support for the development decreases significantly with the size of the residential areas. On the scale from -100 to 100, it is also noticeable that the respondents' income is a relevant factor. Autonomous driving enjoys especially high acceptance in megacities among respondents in the highest income bracket (score of +44), while particularly high rejection is noted in small towns with less than 50,000 inhabitants among consumers with medium and low incomes (-23 and -20, respectively).