Conti Conducts Study into Hybrid Vehicle Acceptance

A European study conducted by Continental’s Automotive Systems division reveals that a quarter of all motorists in Germany are considering purchasing a hybrid vehicle. These findings are based upon a survey of one thousand motorists, and are a favourable finding for the division, which produces a number of components used in the production of this type of car.

The study also found that while three-quarters of those interviewed had previously heard of hybrid technology, only a third were capable of coming anywhere near describing it. On the whole, women were reportedly less knowledgeable in this area, although when explained to them they became much more open to the idea. The potential cost savings were the number one reason given by those who said they’d consider buying a hybrid, followed by tax incentives. Purely environmental concerns played a very minor role in the decision process.

Continental plans to release the full results of the study at the Geneva Motor Show, and the company believe they reflect a trend that will continue. “There definitely is a market,” noted Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, chairman of the management board of Continental’s Automotive Systems division and member of the Executive Board of Continental AG. “And it is steadily growing. We’re bringing the right products at the right time.

“International market studies forecast rapid growth to two million hybrid vehicles and more annually after 2012. We shall be participating in this boom insofar as, together with our cooperation partner ZF Friedrichshafen AG, we can offer complete solutions up to and including electric brakes and the related software integration from just one source.”