Press Release
Continental Mobility Study 2015:
Mine! Car Ownership Extremely Popular, Even Among
Younger Generations
 Above all, driving is more a question of money than of age or location
 Young people want large, powerful, and prestigious cars
 Automation and networking ride high among drivers
Hanover, January 29, 2015. Not owning a car is out of the question for the majority of drivers in
Germany. According to the "Continental Mobility Study 2015," the vast majority (83%) of vehicles
are owned personally and only 1% of respondents make use of car-sharing services. Local drivers
like to use their own cars for everyday travel – despite increased traffic volume. For example, 97%
consider driving convenient and 93% enjoy it. Very few people have a guilty conscience about it,
with only 7% seeing it as unreasonable.
The preference to own a car or the enjoyment of driving is not a question of age or location. For
85% of 18- to 30-year-olds, owning a car is still the first choice. In addition, around one in two city
dwellers (46%) attach importance to owning a vehicle, and the majority (69%) like driving just as
much as those who live in the countryside (66%). The decision to obtain a driving license as an
entry ticket for individual automobility ultimately depends just as much on money as owning a car
does: cost reasons are the deciding factors for two out of three respondents under 30 years of age
without a driving license (22%), and the same reasons apply for those with a valid driving license
but without their own car (27% of those under 30). 59% of people in this category forego owning a
car for financial reasons.
For the "Continental Mobility Study 2015," the international automotive supplier Continental had the
market and social research institute infas conduct a representative survey of drivers in Germany
and the U.S.A. and a qualitative survey in France, Japan, and China in the second half of 2014.
Experts from science and the automotive industry were also interviewed.
"Driving is, and will remain, primarily driven by emotion and less so by reason. The vast majority of
people like driving and don't want to do without their car for everyday travel. We therefore don't
expect a very noticeable decline in individual car use in the medium term," said Chairman of the
Continental Executive Board Dr. Elmar Degenhart during publication of the study's results on
Thursday.
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Your contact:
Vincent Charles, +49 511 938-1622
-2For "Generation Smartphone," Degenhart called for the systematic networking of cars to form part
of the Internet: "Contrary to the conflicting theory we hear time and again, young people too still
want to own their own car. But cars need to become more intelligent as well as send, receive, and
process information quicker in digital format. So it's up to the automotive industry itself to keep up
with the living situations and requirements of young people and, for example, to offer a wider range
of networked services in the vehicle."
Young generations attach importance to vehicle dynamics, image, and comfort
Small and mid-size cars are right at the top of the shopping list for young people in Germany, with
51% of 18- to 30-year-olds who took part in the study stating a preference for small or mid-size
cars. However, there could be an increase in sales of large, powerful cars if their funds would allow
it. After all, sedans (18- to 25-year-olds: 21% / 25- to 30-year-olds: 26%), SUVs (18- to 25-yearolds: 13% / 25- to 30-year-olds: 19%), and sporty cars (18- to 25-year-olds: 21% / 25- to 30-yearolds: 16%) enjoy great popularity among young drivers. Consideration of environmental aspects is
likewise falling slightly with only 35% of 18- to 25-year-olds and 36% of 25- to 30-year-olds stating
they would choose a smaller vehicle model in favor of lower emission values. So it is not surprising
that the majority of respondents consider the vehicle's image a high priority: 59% of both age
groups feel it is important to own a vehicle that others like, too.
"Young people don't want a basic car but instead attach importance to vehicle dynamics, image,
and comfort," said Degenhart. With regard to the future prospects of the automotive industry, he
concluded: "There is no reason to assume that young drivers in Germany will turn their back on
their cars in the foreseeable future."
Drivers show great interest in automation and networking
On the whole, drivers in Germany – including older drivers – are likewise open to new
technologies, and many rely on automated driving functions to assist them with everyday travel.
For example, more than two-thirds of all drivers (68%) want to make use of automated driving in
stressful or monotonous driving situations in particular. And many drivers show great interest when
it comes to intelligent vehicles and their sending, receiving, and processing of information, too.
Networked services are primarily accepted when they create recognizable added value.
The majority of drivers want improved traffic control through data exchange (72%), an event data
recorder (69%), or maintenance schedules based on real-time vehicle data (63%). Monitoring
services, however, are rejected.
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Your contact:
Vincent Charles, +49 511 938-1622
-3For example, currently only 37% of respondents would have their own driving style recorded or
monitored by in-car systems in order to reduce their insurance premium.
"Data protection is, and will remain, a decisive criterion when it comes to introducing networked
services," said Degenhart, adding: "Our strategy for Automated Driving 2025 takes this
requirement into consideration. Anonymized monitoring of road traffic is sufficient for zero
accidents. We do not need to know the individual license plate for this purpose. In many cases,
anonymous information on aspects such as position, time, and event is perfectly sufficient."
On the future of cars, he said: "To further increase the attractiveness of cars, there must be further
developments in their intelligence in particular – not their form of ownership or marketing.
Digitization and automation form the basis for comprehensive vehicle information management and
for relieving the burden on drivers in increasing road traffic. Therein lies the key potential to
intelligently redefine individual mobility."
Continental develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods. As a reliable partner,
the international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner provides sustainable, safe,
comfortable, individual, and affordable solutions. In 2014, the corporation generated preliminary sales of
approximately €34.5 billion with its five divisions, Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tire, and ContiTech.
Continental employs around 190,000 people in 49 countries.
The study:
In the second half of 2014, the international automotive supplier Continental had infas conduct a
representative survey of 1,800 (non-)drivers in Germany and 2,300 in the U.S.A. and a qualitative survey of
400 vehicle owners each in Germany, the U.S.A., France, Japan, and China. Interviews with experts from
the automotive industry and research supplement the results of the study with insights from a professional
point of view.
Contact for journalists
Hannes Boekhoff
Vice President Media Relations
Continental AG
Phone: +49 (0) 511 938-1278
Cell phone: +49 (0) 170 762 73 26
E-mail: hannes.boekhoff@conti.de
Vincent Charles
Press Spokesperson for Business & Finance
Continental AG
Phone: +49 511 938-1622
Cell phone: +49 (0) 173 314 5096
E-mail: vincent.charles@conti.de
This press release is available in the following languages: German, English
Links
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Your contact:
Vincent Charles, +49 511 938-1622