Auto purchasers express desire for autonomous driving capabilities, ADAS technology, and Future Advanced Driver Systems (FADS) in their new vehicles.
The future of driving is increasingly leaning towards reducing the tasks drivers have to perform, according to the latest findings from AutoPacific's 2025 Future Vehicle Planner study. This comprehensive survey, based on responses from nearly 18,000 licensed drivers planning to purchase a new vehicle within the next three years, reveals a strong and growing preference for semi-autonomous features and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in the U.S. market.
Several self-driving and driver assistance features have made their way onto buyers' wish lists for 2025. Adaptive cruise control with active lane-keeping, rear automatic emergency braking, and hands-free highway driving are among the most desired technologies, indicating a significant rise in demand for vehicles equipped with semi-autonomous driving technologies.
Interestingly, all-wheel drive, blind spot cameras, power-adjustable front seats, front-and-rear parking sensors, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are considered "must-haves" by over 60% of respondents. This suggests that while consumers are eager for advanced driving technologies, they still value traditional features that enhance comfort and convenience.
The study also sheds light on more ambitious capabilities that consumers are keen on. Fully autonomous driving, either hands-off and supervised or entirely driverless to a destination, with or without manual override, is gaining traction. These capabilities, although not yet mainstream, are attracting a significant number of respondents.
Ed Kim, AutoPacific's president and chief analyst, notes that automakers who offer highly desirable but less common technologies stand to gain a competitive advantage, especially as the market moves further towards electrification and automation. He suggests that manufacturers should take note of not just what consumers want, but how that demand is evolving with age, exposure, and familiarity.
The study combines extensive psychographic and demographic data with the Future Attribute Demand Study (FADS) and the EV Consumer Insights Study. AutoPacific introduced a layer of nuance to its survey, asking respondents whether the features they wanted were "must-haves" or "nice-to-haves."
The median age of survey participants dropped from 44 in 2024 to 39 in the current year, reflecting a generational shift in the car-buying population. Members of Gen Y and Gen Z are more comfortable with automation and expect it in their next vehicle. Early exposure to autonomous vehicle technology through robotaxi pilots in cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, and Shanghai is building trust among consumers.
Many respondents agree with the statement, "I want my vehicle to be able to safely drive itself so I can do other things (read, watch movies, work, etc.)". Hands-free highway driving is now one of the most in-demand options on buyers' wish lists, with demand for this function rising a dramatic 20 percentage points over last year.
However, the top-ranked hands-off highway driving feature is still seen as optional, with only 33% of those who want it considering it a "must-have." Demand for hands-off, semi-autonomous driving for highway use only, with the driver still required to pay attention, is now tied with rear automatic emergency braking as the most desired technology among new car intenders, each earning interest from 43% of respondents.
The implications for automakers are substantial, as features once dismissed as niche or experimental are now approaching mainstream relevance. The AutoPacific's 2025 Future Vehicle Planner study, now in its fourth year, has become a widely cited source for automotive product planners, marketers, and technology developers.
[1] AutoPacific's 2025 Future Vehicle Planner: https://autopacific.com/2025-future-vehicle-planner/ [2] EV Consumer Insights Study: https://autopacific.com/ev-consumer-insights-study/ [3] Future Attribute Demand Study (FADS): https://autopacific.com/fads/
- The automotive industry is witnessing a significant surge in demand for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and semi-autonomous driving features, as revealed by the AutoPacific's 2025 Future Vehicle Planner study.
- In the transportation sector, finance has an essential role to play as many consumers are keen on investing in gadgets and technologies that enhance comfort, convenience, and safety, as evidenced by themust-have features like all-wheel drive, blind spot cameras, power-adjustable front seats, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- As the industry moves towards electrification and automation, technology will continue to play a crucial part in shaping the future of the automotive industry, with ambitious capabilities such as fully autonomous driving gaining traction, according to the insights gathered from the AutoPacific's 2025 Future Vehicle Planner study.
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