Hoofddorp, 9 April 2015 – Appearance and safety are the most important issues for lease drivers when choosing options and accessories. That can be clearly seen in the choices made when deciding on a lease car. Leasing company ALD Automotive has conducted a study of the top 10 options and accessories chosen by Dutch lease drivers. Metallic paint has topped the list for years, with more than 71% of the lease drivers asking for this option. In addition to appearance and safety items, high-tech options are also very popular.
The top 10 options and accessories (not including trim packages and standard options) are:
1. Metallic paint, 71%
2. Full-size spare tyre, 11%
3. Park distance control, 10%
4. Navigation system, 9%
5. Roof rack, 9%
6. Tinted windows, 9%
7. Audio accessories, 8%
8. Leather upholstery, 6%
9. Tow hook, 6%
10. Electric sunroof, 6%
Lease drivers spend an average of 500 Euros per car on options from this list. The navigation system option has dramatically decreased compared with previous years, partly because of the growth of smartphones and partly because navigation is a more common standard feature in new cars.
The fact that safety is an important factor to lease drivers is indicated by the 2nd-place finish for spare tyres (11%), followed by park distance control (10%). It seems as if lease drivers also plan on taking their cars on holiday, considering the 5th-place finish for roof racks.
Climate and comfort
‘Privacy glass’ is number 6 in the list, with 9%. Despite its name, most drivers choose this option for its ability to block the sun’s glare. Audio accessories for playing music in the car, such as multimedia systems, car radios, speakers and amplifiers, together take 7th place in the list. As with previous years, driving pleasure and luxury options are important items. Eighth place is reserved for leather upholstery, preferably heated (heated seats almost made it into the top-10). The number 10 spot this year is reserved for electric sunroofs.
Trends
ALD Automotive has noticed an increase in the number of telecommunications options in new cars. The smartphone occupies an increasingly dominant place in the car, with features such as navigation via the telephone, but also for unlocking, heating and operating the vehicle. The leasing company has also noticed that new cars feature more standard USB connections, for charging telephones. But this new option is already obsolete due to the arrival of cars that can charge smartphones cordlessly via induction. Finally, cars are beginning to communicate more with the dealership, the manufacturer and with each other.