Aral study Trends when buying a car: Hybrid more popular than diesel

K ompletely do without your own car? That doesn't seem to be an issue for most drivers. As the 2019 edition of the Aral study 'Trends in car buying' shows, 35 percent of the 1,001 interviewed and representatively selected people intend to buy a car in the next 18 months. Although the value is six percent lower than in the last survey in 2017, in a long-term comparison it is still well above the average. Incidentally, the age of the study participants does not play a role: the 35 percent value applies to both under- and over-40s.

Car buyers want used cars instead of new ones

But the study also shows that buying behavior is changing. Two years ago, 25 percent of those surveyed wanted to buy a new car, this time it is only 14 percent. While interest in year-old cars remained stable, that in used cars has doubled from six to twelve percent. That means the highest level ever found in the Aral study. In addition, fewer and fewer car buyers want to pay for their new purchase in cash (42 instead of 53 percent); instead, interest in financing and leasing offers is increasing.

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BMW before Audi, and Mercedes ousts VW from the podium: the favorite brands of German car buyers.

There is a change at the top of the favorite brands of German car buyers: As two years ago, 14 percent of those surveyed want to buy a BMW as their next car. What was only enough for second place back then now means a place in the sun. The Munich-based company owes its top position to the weakness of the Bavarian rival Audi, which fell in the favor of the study participants from 17 (2017) to twelve percent and is now only in second place. Third place for Mercedes means that VW is not on the for the first timeTakes place in the popularity ranking of the Aral study. Volkswagen's reputation has been falling continuously since 2009 from 22 percent at the time to just nine percent in the current edition. In general, the volume brands are struggling to win the favor of car buyers: Manufacturers such as Opel, Ford, Hyundai, Skoda or Dacia achieve a maximum of four percent.

Estate over SUV and sedan

The most popular The body shape is surprisingly still the station wagon: it increased from 21 to 23 percent. But the SUVs are hot on his heels: 22 percent mean an increase of 15 percent compared to 2015. After all, 20 percent still want to buy a sedan, while twelve percent of those questioned squinted at a small car. Sad bottom: The Vans with two percent popularity.

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Petrol are by far the most popular. Hybrids and diesels are far behind in second and third place.

When it comes to drive types, the vote of car buyers is clearly in favor of gasoline. 55 percent want to next decide on a model with a gasoline engine - three percent more than two years ago. Diesel, on the other hand, continues to fall in favor: four years ago almost one in three respondents wanted to buy a compression-ignition engine, the proportion has now fallen to just twelve percent. This means that diesel is now falling behind hybrid cars, which have increased by two to 17 percent compared to 2017. Car and natural gas play practically no role with one percent each.

Acceptance of electric cars is stagnating

Electric drives have also increased by two to seven percentage points. As many as 55 percent of those surveyed can basically imagine choosing a model with a purely electric drive the next time they buy a car. Nevertheless, acceptance seems to be stagnating: it was exactly at this level two years ago; the 2015 study showed a value of 53 percent. At the same time, expectations in terms of range and charging time are increasing: Potential buyers of electric cars expect an average range of 531 kilometers - 68 kilometers more than two years ago. 58 percent of those surveyed also hope for a charging time of 30 minutesor less.

In addition, the Aral study shows a growing skepticism towards autonomous driving. Only 18 percent of those surveyed can imagine taking a seat in a self-driving car - two percent less than in 2017. The respondents do not expect this technology to be ready for series production for 12.8 years. Two years ago this expectation was 10.6 years and in 2015 it was only 10.2 years.