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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Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles has announced its financial results for Q2 FY2027, reporting consolidated revenue of INR 969.2 billion, representing a 34 percent YoY growth. Consolidated EBITDA reached 6.2 percent with an EBIT margin of 1.1 percent, while profit before tax, before exceptional items, stood at INR 4.03 billion.

During the quarter, the company incurred an exceptional expenditure of INR 67 billion for employee separation costs and asset impairments.

In Q2 FY2027, Tata Motors’ domestic passenger vehicles business recorded its highest quarterly revenue at INR 204.23 billion, up 51 percent YoY, driven by a 40 percent volume growth. Electric vehicle volumes grew 90 percent YoY, pushing alternative powertrains past 50 percent penetration, with electric vehicles accounting for 23 percent and compressed natural gas (CNG) models at 28 percent. The domestic unit registered an EBITDA margin of 4 percent and an EBIT margin of -0.3 percent, affected by commodity costs and foreign exchange pressures, while generating a positive free cash flow of INR 8.25 billion.

Tata Motors-owned British marquee luxury brand Jaguar Land Rover reported revenue of GBP 5.9 billion, a 20.3 percent increase YoY, supported by wholesale volume recovery following cyber incidents in the previous year.

Jaguar Land Rover posted an EBITDA margin of 6.6 percent and an adjusted EBIT margin of 1.1 percent, with a profit before tax and exceptional items of GBP 6 million. During the quarter, Jaguar Land Rover unveiled three luxury electric vehicles – the Range Rover Electric, Range Rover Sport Electric, and the Jaguar Type 01 – built in the United Kingdom, alongside restructuring provisions of GBP 530 million and a free cash outflow of GBP 540 million.

Dhiman Gupta, CFO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, said, “In Q2 FY27 TMPV continued to build on its strong momentum in the domestic business, while JLR delivered resilient volumes despite global market specific challenges and wind-down of previous Jaguar models. However, adverse mix and persistent commodity pressures weighed on margins. Both businesses remain fundamentally strong, and we stay focused on executing our medium-term priorities: driving growth through new launches, accelerating cost reductions and improving cash generation.”

PB Balaji, CEO, Jaguar Land Rover, said, “JLR delivered positive operating profits in the second quarter and first half of the financial year, despite ongoing global challenges. We launched three new products: Range Rover Electric, Range Rover Sport Electric and the show stopping Jaguar Type 01 at a world premiere in New York. With the proposed arrival of Range Rover GT and a new electric Defender product in the new year, we are entering a phase of exciting product launches. This, together with our growth plans for the US and disciplined execution of the Enterprise Missions to reduce our breakeven volumes to 300k units, positions us well to deliver consistent, cash-accretive growth in the coming years. I would like to thank all our people, supply chain and retail partners for their continued support.”

Shailesh Chandra, MD and CEO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, said, “Q2 FY27 was another quarter of strong execution for Tata Motors PV, with record quarterly sales of 200k+ units and industry-beating growth of 40% YoY reflecting robust customer demand across our portfolio. We maintained our leadership in electric mobility, recording industry-beating growth of 90 percent YoY in EV sales. Building on the momentum of our Q1 launches, we further strengthened our portfolio with new launchings including the all-new Tata Aeris. We also unveiled our new customer-facing identity, TATA.CARS, reflecting the evolution of our brand in step with the aspirations of today's Indian car buyer. We registered a Y-o-Y revenue growth of 51 percent and our highest ever quarterly revenues of INR 204 billion in Q2FY27. While steep commodity cost pressures remained a headwind, we responded through calibrated pricing and focused cost actions. Looking ahead, we remain focused on sustaining industry-beating growth, capitalizing on growing EV-penetration, ramping up production capacity and strengthening profitability.”

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European auto major Stellantis recognised 61 suppliers from around the world on 10 November at its sixth annual Global Supplier Conference and Awards held at the Masonic Temple in Detroit.

During the event, 21 companies were named 2026 Suppliers of the Year, while 40 companies received recognition across categories covering materials, quality, innovation, programme management, corporate social responsibility, carbon reduction and value creation.

The conference brought together more than 1,000 supplier representatives and members of the Stellantis leadership team. Executives outlined priorities around programme launch execution, technologies, supplier engagement in design and quality standards to support the FaSTLAne 2030 strategy, alongside a presentation on Jeep brand strategy and the company's ties to the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram brands in Detroit.

A cross-functional Stellantis team selected the recipients based on quality, delivery, innovation, operational and financial metrics, corporate social responsibility and competitiveness.

Antonio Filosa, CEO, Stellantis, said, “Delivering on our strategy requires us to move faster, innovate smarter and execute with excellence. Our suppliers are essential partners in this journey, helping us bring great products to market, strengthen our competitiveness and create greater value for our customers. Congratulations to all this year’s award winners, and thank you to our global supplier community for your partnership and continued commitment.”

Monica Genovese, Chief Purchasing Officer, Stellantis, said, “Strong supplier partnerships are built on trust, performance and continuous improvement. This year’s honourees distinguished themselves through their ability to deliver quality, innovation and value in a dynamic environment. Their performance strengthens our competitiveness and helps us create better outcomes for our customers.”

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Nissan Motor India (NMIPL), a leading manufacturer of passenger vehicles in the country, is observing World Quality Month across its network of 315 sales and service touchpoints during November 2026.

The campaign operates under the theme 'Unmistakable Quality. Every Customer. Every Vehicle. Every Time.' and centres on the operational principle of 'Fix It Right the First Time' to standardise repair processes and aftersales support across dealerships.

The programme is structured around four weekly pillars covering environment, personnel, customer experience and repair quality.

Activities throughout the month include workshop standard audits, technical training programmes for service personnel, customer education workshops, vehicle health check-up camps and feedback collection mechanisms aimed at verifying service quality across the network.

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Cars24 has published its festive performance report covering the period from Navratri through Diwali, reporting 19,039 pre-owned vehicle sales, a 44 percent increase compared to the previous festive period.

The company disbursed over INR 3 billion in vehicle loans during the period, with financing penetration reaching 55 percent of total sales. First-time buyers represented 72 percent of customers, while rural buyers accounted for 40 percent of sales and women buyers formed 36 per cent of the customer base. Maruti Suzuki India, Hyundai Motor India and Tata Motors were the top-selling manufacturers on the platform, with Tata vehicle sales growing 85 percent YoY.

Hatchbacks accounted for over 50 percent of total sales, while SUVs recorded the highest category growth rate. Demand for petrol vehicles reached 65 percent against 58 percent of supply listings, while CNG and electric vehicles combined represented over 15 percent of bookings against 10 percent of supply listings.

The platform recorded 52 million unique users and processed over 700,000 ownership-related transactions, with peak volume reaching one transaction per second. Inspection and verification services saw 40,000 vehicle health report bookings, 660,000 pre-delivery inspection searches, 10,000 completed vehicle inspections and 30,000 vehicle history checks for external purchases.

Vikram Chopra, Founder, Cars24, said, "Festivals have always been a special time for families to bring home a car. But what we are seeing is that the relationship with a vehicle begins well before the purchase and continues long after it. People are researching more, checking vehicle histories, arranging inspections, taking finance and using digital services to manage everyday ownership. Buying and selling are important moments, but ownership is a much longer journey. Our focus at Cars24 is to make that entire experience simpler, more transparent and more convenient, like a trusted family member you can always turn to for guidance on every vehicle-related decision."

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