Higher equipment for cars is no longer the domain of mature drivers, even young people want to be pampered

The last year, affected by the pandemic, has significantly mixed with the preferences of Czech customers when it comes to car equipment. Just a few years ago, the greatest interest in innovations in the field of comfort elements in cars is the domain of the thirties and forties. The year 2020 showed that the interest in autonomous equipment elements, but also in already quite common safety systems, is growing the most among beginners and young drivers under the age of thirty. On the contrary, seniors have the least interest in them. This resulted from an analysis of sales data of the largest used car dealer AAA AUTO from a sample of 70,000 cars sold last year.

Last year changed the perception of cars in individual age categories. While families were more likely to buy larger cars, young and novice drivers did not address the size of the car as much, but rather the comfort. “This change is quite logical. Closing the borders and overall restrictions on movement last year changed our needs. Families began to travel more around the Czech Republic, and it became necessary for them to have a large luggage compartment, thanks to which they can carry a lot of things. On the contrary, younger drivers. Forced to reduce contacts, the selection focuses on optional equipment that enhances their driving experience, such as a hands-free base for young people, keeping them in safe contact with friends on the road, as well as heating seats and, in particular, various assistants. “explained Karolína Topolová, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of AURES Holdings, the operator of the international network of AAA AUTO car centers.

Drivers under the age of 30, who made up less than a fifth of AAA AUTO car center customers last year, show that car equipment is essential to them. While increasingly common equipment such as cruise control, automatic air conditioning, hands-free or parking sensors were not among the most sought-after equipment in this age group five years ago, today’s young people usually can no longer imagine that they would not have this equipment. 58% of cars bought by young drivers have cruise control, 57% a multifunction steering wheel, 47% heated seats, 34% parking sensors. Autonomous equipment elements such as hill start assist, automatic parking or automatic stopping in front of an obstacle are also increasingly popular. The increase in these categories has been several times higher over the last five years, while the increase in more mature drivers is about half.

In the last year, more experienced drivers over the age of thirty have focused more on elements that will make it easier for them to travel with their family. First of all, they chose a large space in the car, most often the body of a station wagon or SUV. Although comfort elements are not losing popularity even with them, it is not such a crucial criterion when choosing a car. On the contrary, seniors often tend to avoid higher equipment and solve the purely practical side of things. The most important thing for them is air conditioning, which may not be automatic as for younger drivers.