The most in-demand feature new car shoppers want is an easy ask for automakers
Today, AutoPacifc released its 2024 Future Attribute Demand Study (FADS). The survey considered 14,900 licensed U.S. drivers who claim they intend to purchase a new car within the next three years. Respondents were asked a variety of questions about which brands, attributes, and features they most prefer heading into their new vehicle search. The topmost feature requested is a fascinating observation of where the general population of new car shoppers sits in contrast to the latest vehicle technology available.
The most in-demand feature new car shoppers say they want should be pretty easy to deliver
Of all the vehicle features listed in the survey, AutoPacific respondents wished for wireless device charging pads for front occupants the most.
Interestingly, the second-most wanted feature was wireless charging pads for rear occupants.
This should be a really easy request for automakers to fulfill. After all, the cheapest new car for sale in the American market, the 2024 Nissan Versa, has a wireless charging pad. Its MSRP starts under $17K. There’s not much of an excuse for any other new car, then, to come without it.
In fact, most of the top 10 most desirable new car features for the nearly 15,000 drivers surveyed related to some not-so-swanky interior “creature comforts.”
Safety makes its first appearance in 4th place with a combined driver convenience item: rain-sensing wiper blades.
The only other safety feature in the top 10 is number eight: Rear cross-traffic alert with automatic emergency braking.
Self-driving features didn’t make the study’s top 10 desired new car features. However, AutoPacfic noted that 45% of surveyed drivers said they wanted “stop in lane” and “redirect to shoulder” hands-free tech if the driver becomes unresponsive. This makes sense to me, considering the continued discussion of preventable collisions and deaths related to Tesla’s FSD mode, for instance.
In any case, after today, I can see automakers making sure to add wireless charging pads to their interior design plans for incoming models. In my mind, this is at least one new car feature drivers should be able to easily receive.
