German tier 1 supplier Continental recently commissioned a representative mobility study in August 2024 to understand the perception about young people on mobility needs.

For the Mobility Study 2024, infas was commissioned by Continental in August 2024 to survey a total of around 5,000 people aged 18 and over in Germany, China, France, Japan and the USA about their mobility habits and attitudes to a variety of mobility issues. In each country, the respective sample is representative of the population; for China, it is representative of the urban population. The aim of the Continental Mobility Study, now in its eighth edition since 2011, is to provide an international comparison of people’s attitudes toward current and future developments in mobility and their personal usage habits. The range of topics covered in this year’s study included automated driving, user experience, AI in cars, sustainable mobility concepts, mobility in urban areas, the affordability of mobility and attitudes toward government regulation in the mobility sector.

The key findings found that overall, 84 percent of car owners in Germany, regardless of age, believe that it is important to own a car. For almost 90 percent, having a car is essential for shopping and running other errands. The majority of young people in Germany are particularly enthusiastic about technological advances in cars. They look forward to the benefits self-driving cars will offer in terms of being able to read, play video games or work (51 percent of 25 to 34-year-olds). In addition to autonomous driving, artificial intelligence (AI) in the form of digital voice assistants is very popular with this group. There is a similar level of approval in the four other countries surveyed in the study.

Philipp von Hirschheydt, Executive Board member responsible for the Automotive group sector, Continental, said, “The findings show that the response to new technologies such as automated driving, large displays and AI in cars varies greatly between generations and also between countries. That’s why we aim to provide customised solutions – market-specific, tailor-made and modular.”

The findings of the study also reveal the current status of the trend toward lower-emission mobility worldwide. Particularly striking is that acceptance of fully electric cars remains low.

In Germany, only 3 percent of all car owners have an electric vehicle. However, just over a third of respondents who do not yet own an electric vehicle believe their next car will be fully electric (39 percent, compared with 34 percent in 2022). By contrast, hybrid drives are highly popular across all countries. In Germany (48 percent) and the USA (47 percent), nearly half of respondents who do not own an electric car can imagine their next vehicle being a hybrid with a combustion engine and an electric motor.

In China, that figure rises to almost nine out of 10 respondents (86 percent). This means that hybrid cars could increasingly bridge the gap to e-mobility and give it a renewed boost. With a share of 68 percent, younger people in Germany aged between 25 and 34 are particularly interested in electric cars – also compared with their international peers.

Vehicle as a status symbol 

On the one hand, younger people up to the age of 34 in Germany do not feel that attached to cars. For them, more than for older respondents, it is one of many means of transportation available. On the other hand, generation Y and Z drivers born in the 1990s and later have a clear emotional connection to their cars: for more than half of 18 to 34-year-olds (54 percent) in Germany, cars are regarded as a status symbol – twice the share among respondents aged 45 and over. People aged between 18 and 34, particularly those living in large cities, see cars as a prestige item (67 percent). In small towns and rural areas, the approval rate is around 49 percent. This view of the car is accompanied by growing expectations. Of the 25 to 34-year-olds surveyed, for example, 51 percent believe that cars of the future should not only be a safe means of transportation, but also a place to relax and work.

Tech attracts young people

The study also found that younger people in Germany also had a positive attitude toward highly automated and autonomous driving, with around two-thirds (65 percent) of 18 to 34-year-olds seeing this as a useful development. Among older respondents aged 55 and over, 39 percent share this view. Around two-thirds of younger people up to the age of 34 also believe that state-of-the-art technologies should be mandatory in newly registered cars in order to make traffic even safer – a viewpoint that signals approval of the EU directive requiring certain advanced driver assistance systems in new cars, which has been in force since July 2024.

Another future technology that is particularly popular with younger people is AI assistants in cars. Almost three-quarters of respondents (74 percent) between the ages of 18 and 34 would welcome an AI voice as a service that, like a virtual travel companion, provides useful information about sights and restaurants along the route, finds the nearest gas or charging station, searches for free parking spaces or even compiles personal messages.

“Younger people in particular have changing expectations of cars. These are closely linked to pioneering technologies such as automated driving, which deliver new user experiences. At Continental, we’re already equipping cars with AI. Together with our partner Google Cloud, we have developed a virtual companion for drivers. We are particularly proud to be one of the first automotive suppliers worldwide to integrate Google Cloud applications directly into our vehicle computers,” added Hirschheydt.

Autonomous & AI

The comparison between countries reveals a widespread openness to highly automated and autonomous driving in Asia across all age groups. In China, nine out of 10 respondents (90 percent) view the relevant technologies as a useful development, while in Japan, almost three-quarters (72 percent) share this sentiment. In France (60 percent) and the USA (56 percent), more than half of those surveyed have a positive attitude. In Germany, around one in two respondents (49 percent) feel the same. An AI-powered virtual travel companion is particularly popular in China, where nine out of 10 respondents (91 percent) say they would like to have such a service. In the USA (66 percent) and Japan (63 percent), around two-thirds express this wish, while in France (58 percent) and Germany (57 percent) more than half would be happy to have the technology.

There is broad agreement across all countries on the ideal size of a car display for infotainment content. Most people prefer larger displays, with 90 percent of respondents in China favouring this option.

In Germany (81 percent), France (79 percent) and the USA (80 percent), eight out of 10 respondents would like their navigation, vehicle data and music to be shown on large screens.

In Japan, the figure is more than two-thirds (69 percent). However, preferences differ significantly when it comes to technological details. While the majority of respondents in Japan (79 percent) and more than half in Germany (57 percent) prefer a simpler display on car screens, a slight majority in the USA (58 percent) favour more colours. By contrast, many features are popular in China (69 percent). In Japan (70 percent), the majority prefer a more straightforward digital design, while in Germany, around half feel the same way (55 percent).

There are also differences between countries when it comes to the question of whether a display should be controlled by voice or manually: voice control is particularly popular in Japan (67 percent), more than half are in favour of it in China (59 percent), while the number is significantly lower in Germany (43 percent). In the USA, just over half (55 percent) also prefer to operate a display manually.

Hybrid

The study shows that hybrid drivers in Germany have an above-average interest in all-electric mobility – a strong indication that hybrid cars can play a key role as a bridging technology for the transition to fully electric drives.

For example, 43 percent of respondents who currently use a vehicle with a combined combustion engine and electric motor say that their next car will definitely be an all-electric vehicle. Those who drive a gasoline or diesel vehicle are significantly less open to such a switch (12 and 19 percent respectively). In addition, a clear majority (58 percent) of hybrid drivers would be willing to buy an electric car without a government subsidy.

The data suggests that hybrid vehicles are boosting people’s confidence in e-mobility and may help reduce any reservations about fully electric vehicles. One group with significant future potential for this development is the 48 percent of respondents who do not drive an electric or hybrid car and for whom an all-electric car is not currently an option, but who are considering a hybrid as their next car.

Varying degree in e-cars

The shift to electric mobility is under pressure in Germany, where sales of all-electric cars are faltering. According to the latest figures of the Continental study, electric cars represent a significant share (10 percent) of the overall passenger-car fleet in China, while only 3 percent of respondents in Germany drive an all-electric car and 91 percent a car with a combustion engine (China: 80 percent). There is potential for higher sales of electric cars in Germany, particularly among those aged 18 to 34. In this age group, around two-thirds (64 percent) of respondents believe it is certain or likely that their next car will be fully electric – a trend that gradually diminishes in older generations.

A look at age-dependent attitudes toward electric mobility reveals that, like many other technological developments, e-mobility is more appealing to younger drivers than older ones. They are more willing to forgo subsidies: 50 percent of 25 to 34-year-olds would consider buying an electric car without government assistance. However, the willingness to fully finance an electric vehicle decreases significantly among those aged 45 and older.

EVs and subsidy

The study found that two-thirds of respondents in Germany link the purchase of an electric car to a government subsidy is an expression of their concerns about being unable to finance an electric car on their own. In Germany, 71 percent of respondents worry that mobility will no longer be affordable due to rising energy prices. In the 2022 Mobility Study, 73 percent of people in Germany expressed their concerns about the affordability of mobility.

What’s more, 65 percent of respondents fear that they will not be able to afford an electric car in the near future and 56 percent are worried that driving could soon become too expensive for them. As a result, a clear majority (80 percent) expect policymakers to create the framework conditions to ensure that driving remains affordable. At the same time, they believe driving should be made more sustainable in the most cost-neutral way possible. Almost three-quarters (73 percent) of respondents think that the cost of environmentally friendly cars needs to fall. Regulatory interventions such as a speed limit of 130 kmph on highways are met with acceptance (62 percent), provided they do not lead to price increases. Younger respondents are less price-sensitive. They are much more prepared to pay a premium for environmentally friendly cars, especially if they are completely carbon-neutral in production and operation (40 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds compared with 13 percent of 45 to 54-year-olds).

Sustainable tyres

Sustainability is an important concern for people with cars is also demonstrated by their attitude to tyres. According to the study, almost eight out of 10 drivers in Germany (84 percent) who also value tyre recycling consider it important that their tyres contain an increasing share of environmentally friendly materials. When purchasing tyres, younger people (61 percent of 25 to 34-year-olds) are more concerned than older people about what happens to the tyres at the end of their service life.

Furthermore, 44 percent of car owners in Germany would be willing to pay a premium for tyres made from a higher share of renewable and sustainable materials. Here again, this willingness is most pronounced among 25 to 34-year-olds (65 percent).

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American electric vehicle and software company Lucid Group has announced French market pricing for its Gravity SUV and Air sedan models prior to their debut at the Paris Motor Show, scheduled for 12–18 October in Hall 7.1.

The company outlines four trim configurations for the Lucid Gravity SUV in France. The entry-level Gravity Touring features a 568 PS powertrain, an 89 kWh battery pack providing a WLTP range of up to 545 kilometres, and a starting price of EUR 95,900 including VAT.

The Gravity Touring Plus incorporates seven-seat capacity along with soft-close doors and acoustic glazing, priced from EUR 99,900 including VAT. The Gravity Grand Touring, priced from EUR 120,900 including VAT, utilises a 123 kWh battery pack and an 839 PS output, reaching 100 kmph in 3.6 seconds with a WLTP range of up to 739 kilometres.

The flagship Gravity Grand Touring Ultimate trim includes three-chamber air suspension, rear-wheel steering, a 22-speaker audio system, and driver assistance features, priced from EUR 148,900 including VAT.

The Lucid Air sedan range in France comprises four variants. The Air Pure model, priced from EUR 86,900 including VAT, uses an 88 kWh battery pack delivering up to 831 kilometres of WLTP range with energy consumption rated at 11.8 kWh per 100 km. The dual-motor all-wheel drive Air Touring offers up to 780 kilometres of range and starts at EUR 100,900 including VAT. The Air Grand Touring model provides a range of up to 960 kilometres, with pricing starting at EUR 131,900 including VAT. The range-topping Air Sapphire features a three-motor powertrain producing 1,251 PS, reaching 100 km/h in 2.0 seconds with a top speed of 330 kmph and a range of up to 694 kilometres, priced from EUR 252,900 including VAT.

Lawrence Hamilton, President of Europe, Lucid, said, "Lucid prioritises the customer journey as it enters the French market at the Paris Motor Show. French customers will be able to experience Lucid Gravity and Lucid Air firsthand and see how our technology delivers exceptional range, efficiency, performance and space."

Lucid plans to display the Gravity Grand Touring and Air Grand Touring models at the trade show, with ordering and availability details to be released separately. The company will conduct a press conference on 12 October with Lawrence Hamilton and Pierre Guignot, General Manager of the Emil Frey France Import Division, following a partnership agreement with Emil Frey France to manage import and operational activities across the country.

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Chinese automotive major Geely Auto has announced that its Monjaro EM-i plug-in hybrid SUV achieved a Guinness World Record for the fastest crossing of the Black and White Desert in the Sahara by a plug-in hybrid production SUV.

The announcement took place during the Monjaro EM-i Product Capability & Core Tech Deep Dive event following a continuous 188.6-kilometre drive from the volcanic terrain of the Black Desert to the chalk-white landscape of the White Desert in Egypt.

The crossing served as a testing platform across five evaluation areas – handling and stability, steep-slope ascents, cross-axle recovery, ride comfort over rough surfaces and acceleration at a low state of battery charge. The vehicle is constructed on Geely’s GEA Evo new-energy architecture and utilises the GEEA 3.0 electronic structure to coordinate power delivery across its drive systems.

The Monjaro EM-i features Geely’s e-AWD Intelligent Electric AWD System, which alters front-to-rear torque distribution between 100:0 and 50:50 ratios. The system functions alongside traction control algorithms to reduce wheel slip by up to 50 per cent on low-friction surfaces.

Suspended by a Continuous Damping Control system that adjusts up to 50 times per second with a 20-millisecond response time, the EM-i Super Hybrid powertrain combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with electric drive units to output 250 kW of power and 667 Nm of torque, achieving a claimed zero to 100 kmph acceleration time of 5.83 seconds. Thermal management systems regulated component temperatures across the engine, battery and power electronics during the desert run.

The Sahara driving programme was attended by media representatives and automotive commentators from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Peru. Geely Auto reported export sales of 110,094 vehicles in August, marking a 205 percent increase compared to the same month in the prior year. The company plans to present the Monjaro EM-i at the Paris Motor Show in October as part of its ongoing international product rollout.

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Hyundai Motor India has opened bookings for its upcoming Bayon crossover SUV ahead of its scheduled release during the upcoming festive season. Customers can reserve the vehicle online via the official company portal or at authorised dealerships for a booking amount of INR 11,000.

The 4.2-metre vehicle is constructed on the company's Global K Enhanced Platform, engineered to meet five-star Indian crash safety parameters. Positioned as an intelligent utility vehicle, the Bayon claims to introduce an integrated generative artificial intelligence voice assistant designed to process driver interactions and vehicle controls.

Powering the vehicle is a petrol engine offered with a choice of a manual transmission or an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). Exterior design elements encompass a sculpted bonnet, front daytime running lights, geometric wheel arches, door cladding and bridge-type roof rails, while the interior layout optimises legroom, headroom and shoulder room across both rows.

Tarun Garg, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Hyundai Motor India, said, “At Hyundai Motor India, we continuously strive to redefine mobility experiences through meaningful innovation. The Hyundai BAYON embodies our vision of intelligent mobility by seamlessly integrating advanced technology, futuristic design and comprehensive safety into a compelling SUV package. Hyundai BAYON has been developed for new-age Indian customers who seek more from their vehicles: more intelligence, more comfort, more confidence and more style. Hyundai BAYON introduces a new dimension of human-centric technology and unlocks a truly intuitive mobility experience. We are confident that Hyundai BAYON will set new benchmarks and resonate strongly with modern Indian consumers.”

Delivery timelines for the vehicle will be confirmed at the time of its official commercial launch.

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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra has launched the Thar OG, an updated version of its three-door lifestyle utility vehicle, with introductory prices starting at INR 1.03 million ex-showroom.

The vehicle succeeds the three-door model introduced in 2020, with deliveries scheduled to begin on 11 October 2026. Introductory pricing will remain valid for vehicle deliveries completed through 30 November 2026.

Underpinning the Thar OG is the M_Glyde 4G platform, paired with a rear Pentalink suspension setup featuring a Watts Linkage and frequency-dependent damping technology.

Mechanical revisions include electric power steering, an electronic locking differential and selectable terrain modes covering mud, sand and snow.

The Thar comes with three engine options: a 2.0-litre G20 TGDi mStallion petrol engine generating 119 kW and 330 Nm of torque, a 2.2-litre D22 mHawk diesel engine generating 111.9 kW and 330 Nm of torque, and a 1.5-litre D117 CRDe diesel engine producing 87.2 kW and 300 Nm of torque.

On the outside it features a redesigned front grille, circular LED headlights with C-shaped daytime running lights, revised front and rear bumpers, LED fog lamps with cornering functions and 19-inch alloy wheels.

Interior equipment includes leatherette upholstery, a 26.03 cm infotainment touchscreen, rear air-conditioning vents, wireless charging, and a soft rear armrest. Safety features encompass four-wheel disc brakes, electronic stability control, front parking sensors, and six airbags, including side pelvis and thorax airbags.

Dr Velusamy R, President, Automotive Business – Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “The Thar is not just an SUV, it is an emotion. With over 4 lakh customers, it has become one of India's most successful lifestyle SUV brands. With the Thar OG, we have elevated the iconic three-door Thar through significant advances in on-road refinement and off-road capability. Built on the advanced M_Glyde 4G platform, it features technologies such as DAVINCI Damping, Rear PENTALINK suspension with Watts Link, Electronic Locking Differential and Electric Power Steering. Together, these deliver the best ride quality, handling, stability and driving confidence ever offered in a Thar, while preserving the authentic capability and rugged character that enthusiasts cherish. We are confident the Thar OG will further strengthen the brand and attract a new generation of enthusiasts.”

Pratap Bose, Chief Design & Creative Officer for Auto & Farm Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “The Thar is one of the most iconic and emotionally resonant nameplates in Indian automotive history, representing authenticity, adventure and a character that has inspired generations of enthusiasts. Designing the Thar OG was never about reinventing an icon but making it even more Thar. Our vision was to preserve its authentic, boxy attitude, strong stance and unmistakable silhouette, while evolving it for a new generation. The new grille, classic circular LED headlamps, signature C-shaped DRLs, LED fog lamps and new R19 alloys enhance its purposeful and instantly recognisable presence. Every design element balances functionality with iconic road presence, reinforcing the Thar’s ability to go anywhere, anytime.”

Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO – Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “The Thar has evolved far beyond being an SUV. It has become an icon that represents freedom, adventure and a way of life for an entire generation of customers. Every new chapter in its journey has expanded its appeal while remaining rooted in the authenticity and capability that have always defined the Thar. The Thar OG is our commitment to that community and to the countless new enthusiasts waiting to join it. With enhanced ride comfort, driving dynamics and capability, the Thar OG takes everything our customers love about the Thar and raises it to a new level.”

The vehicle lineup spans AXT, LXT, and ZXT trims across rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive configurations, with manual and automatic transmission choices. Pricing ranges up to INR 1.89 million for top-specification four-wheel-drive diesel variants.

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