Buyers look for smarter cars

Chinese car buyers are embracing the latest trends, such as intelligent features, connected services and online purchasing, despite downward pressure on the overall market, according to a report by Chinese online platform Autohome.

Buyers expect vehicles to become more smart and connected, the report said. They look forward to intelligent features such as adaptive cruise control, real-time vehicle condition monitoring and automatic braking. Nearly 40 percent of consumers are willing to purchase vehicles online.

The report said that China's auto market is expected to fall 3.2 percent in 2019 compared with last year. However,  the market still has great potential and is expected to post a 6.9 percent growth in 2020.

People aged in their 30s account for around 53.2 percent of buyers while those under 30 make up 21 percent, the report said. 

It noted that the younger generation was paying more attention to connected and interactive services in cars. 

Also increasing is the interest in emerging new-energy vehicle brands. Around 76 million people were aware of these brands in 2018, a sharp increase from the 14 million in 2016, the report said.

The key factors for consumers considering new-energy vehicle brands were quality, safety, performance, servicing and companies' continuous operation and development.