According to a new research by Mazda, nearly 60% of European drivers see a positive future for petrol and diesel engines. Based on the findings, the research showed that consumers don’t necessarily think that the internal combustion engine has no role to play in the future of cars, which is a common belief among many organisations.
The Mazda Driver Project research – commissioned together with Ipsos MORI (UK-based market research firm) and conducted between September 7 to 22 last year – polled 11,008 people across key European markets, and an average of 58% believe there is “a lot of innovation and improvement still to come with petrol and diesel engines.” Apparently, the figure is as high as 65% in Poland and over 60% in Germany, Spain and Sweden.
The findings were backed by the fact that 31% of drivers “hope that diesel cars will continue to exist” as electric cars become more common, and the figure rose to 58% in Poland. Meanwhile, on average, 33% of drivers said that if running costs were the same as an electric car, they would “prefer a petrol or diesel car” – in Italy, as many as 54% echoed this sentiment.
On the self-driving (autonomous vehicles) front, only 33% of drivers “welcome the advent of self-driving cars” with the number dropping to 25% in France and the Netherlands. Interestingly, the report stated that there’s virtually no evidence of greater support for self-driving in younger age groups across Europe. Despite this backdrop, Mazda will continue to develop its Mazda Co-Pilot (self-driving) concept and advanced safety features to give drivers peace of mind at the wheel.
The findings arrive as Mazda ramps up its Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030 vision to combine the best of internal combustion engines with electrification technologies. This of course is a direct reference to the SkyActiv-X, dubbed the world’s first commercial gasoline engine to use compression ignition. To know more, read our report on the SkyActiv-X and SkyActiv-3 technologies.
At the end of it all, Mazda believes driving is a skill that people want to keep. Driving can be fun and functional, and the company said many people would like to see this skill retained for future generations. The same research also showed a significant emotional connection between car and driver – an average of 69% of drivers “hope that future generations will continue to have the option to drive cars.” The figure is as high as 74% in Poland and 70% or higher in the UK, Germany, France and Sweden.
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The success of Tesla proves everything…. I don’t think Mazda can keep up and thus came out with this
Deswai Greentech MY brought in Tesla. Brilliant!
All of this is just a hip. At one point everyone hoo Haa about hybrid car and what’s now. Time will tell. I prefer still petrol / diesel vehicle. Don’t bullshit with environmental friendly with electric car. Bear in mind you still need to dispose the battery. Think of the effect during the disposal
NiMH & Lithium ion battery is 100% recyclable. Many research done. Pls educate yourself with scientific paper, not just gossip.
But malaysian have none
What do you mean success of Tesla? How many Tesla’s are there on the streets? What about their production issues and financial woes? The car division might not be around in two years. What’s there to worry about?
Majority of Europeans still drive manual transmission, they still call it standard transmission, the default choice.
Here majority so pussy, drive 15min also say tak tahan, sakit left leg. No wonder Malaysian most obese in ASEAN.
True. And the manual option is considered the poor man’s option here. You hardly get premium features with a manual gearbox. One I know here is the iriz, but they pulled that option out due to poor sales.
Because alot of us Msians have not tried the newer generation manual gearbox cars. They’re used to old generation manuals with a heavy clutch pedal like the old iswara, and old nissan sunny which is still using clutch cable instead of 2 clutch pumps. Long and clunky shifters like all perodua manuals spoil the fun. Modern european manuals are fun to drive, clutch is light , shifter is short and precise. They come with hill-hold assist so that the car wont roll backwards the moment you release the brake to hit the accelerator.Even modern japanese manuals are catching up. Youngsters need to be exposed to modern manual cars to enjoy it.
In Europe, auto is seen as richfag’s gearbox, or for OKU.
It’s a shame Iriz 1.6L manual flopped. The 1.3L just doesn’t feel… enough. 1.6L would’ve feel perfect, the Goldilock’s choice.
I think they should re-introduce Iriz 1.6 manual again, this time riding on Iriz R5’s blazing start to its rally career, make it limited edition, with limited numbers available. I’m pretty confident it’ll sell better this time, as it makes owners feel special about it given its rally credentials.
The ART Of DRIVING is in manual…
you wanna enjoy driving a machine, you must engage with the machine…
To tame a complex machine is a big boys game !!
yup and drive we will!
it is very true, emotional connection
It all depends on fuel price.