Indian car buyers have only grown obsessed with features as time has passed. With the advent of newer technologies, modern cars have essentially become gadgets on wheels. While features may not be the top criteria for buying a particular vehicle, they certainly provide an edge over corresponding rivals.
The latest Global Automotive Consumer Study by Deloitte reveals the list of features Indian buyers look out for in their cars. Here are the top 5 features that Indians are ready to pay a premium for.
1. Anti-theft tracking
Anti-theft tracking, or popularly known as Geofencing, is surprisingly the most preferred feature among Indian car buyers. According to the report, around 88 percent of buyers are willing to pay an additional amount for an anti-theft tracking device on their car. Car thefts are rampant in certain pockets of the country and so the demand for this feature has only grown over time.
2. Emergency Assistance
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many Indian families have opted for personal mobility when travelling outstation. Hence, many buyers at the time of purchase opt for Road Side Assistance so that if their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere this feature can provide them Emergency Assistance. The report claims around 86 percent of buyers are eager to have this feature on board.
3. Extended Warranty
Around 83 percent of prospective buyers are willing to pay more for extended warranty. A standard warranty comes with the car and the cost is usually attached to the price of the car. An extended warranty is an optional coverage offered either by the manufacturer, dealership, or any third party entity and begins only after the standard warranty has expired. This helps the owner cover his/her car from external damages for a longer period of time.
4. Vehicle health reporting
Onboard diagnostics have become very advanced these days and any anomaly can be identified very easily. So even before you take your vehicle to a service station or a nearby workshop for repair, you are already aware of the problem faced by the car. 83 percent people want the health of their cars reported to them on the infotainment system.
5. Automatic detection of vehicles, pedestrians
Earlier seen primarily as a luxury feature, there has been growing interest for Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) even for mass market cars in India. Within ADAS there are multiple levels and features that enhance safety as well convenience. Around 81 percent Indians dig in for automatic detection of vehicles and pedestrians which is achieved by ADAS features like front and side collision warnings. Heavy traffic in most Indian cities are unavoidable and hence such features are very welcome to Indian car buyers.
Other notable mentions
Around 81 percent of Indian car buyers are willing to pay a premium for smartphone connectivity through apps like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A digital key is a feature that allows users to lock/unlock and start/stop the engine of a car remotely through their smartphones or even smartwatches. Around 80 percent buyers are ready to opt for this feature. Lastly, around 79 percent of Indian buyers look to buy car variants equipped with an infotainment system.
