What you need to know
Whether consumers are ready or not, driverless cars are the future of the automotive industry. But given consumer reticence to adopt new automotive technology, OEMs and marketers will need to concentrate on long-term strategies, as opposed to short-term campaigns. Automakers need to educate consumers on the safety benefits of new features and slowly ease them into the new technology.
It will be crucial for automakers to reflect on what their goal is and who they’re trying to reach. The current state of the market shows dissonance between what consumers are asking for, what they think they want, and what they’re being given.
Definition
This Report builds on the analysis presented in Mintel’s Automotive Innovations – US, May 2018 and Mintel’s Automotive Innovations – US, April 2017. Mintel defines automotive innovation as any process or technology that advances the market or industry.
Types of vehicles referenced in this Report include the following: all cars, station wagons, sedans, pickup trucks, vans, minivans, crossover utility vehicles, and SUVs.
Regarding in-car innovations, categories discussed include but are not limited to comfort/convenience features, technology/audio features, and safety features.
AEV – An alternative energy vehicle that does not use an internal combustion engine as its sole power source. AEV is a catchall term that includes mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles.
