The automotive business faces evolving mobility traits, shifting preferences, and various possession fashions. Deloitte‘s “2025 World Automotive Client Examine” explores client traits impacting electrification, model loyalty, connectivity, hybrid car curiosity and mobility-as-a-service (MaaS).
Customers more and more select hybrid autos to scale back gas prices and emissions. Public charging infrastructure wants could also be overstated based mostly on driving habits.
Hybrid car curiosity has risen by 5% to 26%, whereas curiosity in inner combustion engine (ICE) autos dropped by 5% to 62%. Curiosity in battery electrical autos (BEVs) stays low at 5%, posing challenges for automakers.
Customers prioritize decreasing gas prices (56%), environmental issues (44%), and driving expertise (36%) when selecting EVs. Battery vary (49%), charging time (46%), and value premiums (44%) stay high considerations.
Most U.S. EV patrons (79%) plan to cost at house, although 58% lack entry to devoted EV chargers. About 35% of U.S. customers drive 60 miles or extra solely a couple of times a month.
Model loyalty amongst international customers continues to say no as many plan to change manufacturers for his or her subsequent car.
Practically half of U.S. customers and most in China and Japan owned the identical model earlier than their present automobile. Nevertheless, 76% of customers in China and 72% in India plan to change manufacturers.
Customers in Japan present robust loyalty to home manufacturers (76%), whereas 47% of U.S. customers prioritize high quality (58%), worth (53%), and efficiency (51%) over model allegiance.
New applied sciences like autonomous autos and MaaS choices reshape client expectations whereas elevating security considerations.
Customers fear about driverless robotaxi providers in India (63%), the U.S. (52%), and the U.Ok. (52%). In distinction, 82% in India and 77% in China view AI in autos positively, in comparison with 45% within the U.S. and 43% within the U.Ok.
Smartphone connectivity stays a precedence for 63% of U.S. customers and 87% of Indian customers. About half of U.S. (49%) and Indian customers (51%) drive every day, in comparison with decrease percentages in South Korea (25%) and Japan (23%).
“As the worldwide automotive sector continues to navigate shifting client preferences, powertrain intent and model affinity are two decisive battlegrounds for business stakeholders throughout the worth chain. Curiosity in full hybrids and vary extender applied sciences displays a rising want for pragmatic, cost-effective options that decrease emissions with out requiring a sturdy charging infrastructure. Concurrently, model loyalty is being examined, with rising defection charges throughout a number of markets signaling the significance of cultivating robust relationships, significantly in rising markets with a excessive proportion of first-time patrons,” mentioned Jody Stidham, managing director, international automotive, Deloitte Consulting LLP.
“The U.S. automotive business is navigating a interval of profound transformation, formed by evolving mobility traits, shifting client preferences and various possession fashions. Contemplating final yr’s slowdown on EV intent, the rise in hybrid adoption could function a sensible bridge between legacy and different powertrains for U.S. customers as infrastructure and value realities persist within the close to time period. Autonomous car expertise can also be regaining consideration, however security considerations stay a major hurdle to success,” mentioned Lisa Walker, vice chair and U.S. automotive sector chief, Deloitte.
Deloitte’s “2025 World Automotive Client Examine” relies on a survey of greater than 31,000 customers from 30 international locations performed between October and November 2024.