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Automotive interaction design, as a key bridge connecting drivers and passengers with various functions of the car, is undergoing unprecedented changes and developments, profoundly reshaping every touch, command, and feeling we have during the driving process.

Looking back, the interior of automobiles used to be dominated by traditional mechanical buttons and simple instrument panels, and the interaction between drivers and vehicles was relatively single and limited. However, with the rapid development of various fields such as electronic technology, information technology, and artificial intelligence, automotive interaction design has ushered in a new era.

Nowadays, we are immersed in cars, facing a rich interactive ecosystem constructed by large-sized touch screens, voice assistants on standby at any time, convenient operations brought by gesture recognition, and various intelligent interconnected functions.

For young users, cars have become their unique third living space

In the current diversified development trend of the automotive consumption market, Autohome has found through research that young users are showing a new trend in their understanding and usage of cars - they are increasingly inclined to regard cars as a third living space after their homes and workplaces.

Data shows that among numerous car owners, as many as 93.7% of respondents explicitly stated their willingness to stay in the car. Further analyzing this data composition, we found that the proportion of users who choose to stay in the car for a while is the most prominent, reaching a significant proportion of 51.0%.

And when we focus on the behavioral differences among users of different age groups, a more interesting phenomenon emerges.

Compared to the older user group, young users show a stronger tendency - they are not satisfied with just staying in the car for a short time, but are more willing to spend longer periods of time in the car. Even when they have nothing to do in their leisure time, they choose to stay leisurely in the car.

Behind this phenomenon, it actually reflects the unique demands of young users for expanding the functional attributes of cars. In the fast-paced melody of modern life, young people shuttle through busy urban jungles, facing pressures and disturbances from various aspects such as family, studies, and work. As a relatively independent and private space, cars provide them with a secluded paradise where they can temporarily avoid the hustle and bustle of the outside world and relax their body and mind.

Inside the car: How to make young users put down their phones is a new wave in the development of automotive space

Unfortunately, in terms of the current behavior patterns of young users in cars, playing with their phones seems to have become the most common activity option. Although young users have shown a tendency to spend more time in the car, in reality, for the vast majority of users, cars can only be barely called a "space" at this stage, and there seems to be a certain gap between them and the "living space" that can truly carry rich life experiences.

However, it is gratifying that we have already noticed a subtle shift in users' attitudes and behaviors towards using cars, and they are gradually trying to truly "enjoy" the unique life that cars bring. For example, during parking and rest, 31.4% of users said they would choose to sleep peacefully in the car, instantly transforming the car into a temporary "mobile bedroom".

And during the driving process, a variety of colorful driving scenes are presented. Among them, up to 49.5% of users will make full use of the car audio system to let pleasant music flow in the cabin; At the same time, 19.0% of users will use car screens as a convenient medium to enjoy the audio-visual feast brought by film and television art while traveling.

The emergence of these new driving scenarios is undoubtedly powerful evidence of the continuous evolution of automotive product design.

 From the optimization of interior space layout, to the increasingly sophisticated in car entertainment systems, to the innovation of various intelligent interactive functions, automotive products are gradually integrating into people's daily lives with a more tailored and user experience oriented attitude, creating unique "mobile living spaces" for users.

New favorite in car features: diverse needs such as sleep and camping are on the rise

In terms of preference for in car scene functions, up to 90.2% of users explicitly stated that having sleeping space in the car is an extremely necessary functional requirement for them.

In today's fast-paced urban living environment, the demand for cars is no longer limited to the basic function of daily commuting. The importance of having a private space in the car for "resting and charging" during the short lunch break or fragmented leisure time is self-evident.

In addition to the highly anticipated feature requirement of sleeping space, there are also other in car scene functions that have entered the top 5 user preferences. Among them, the idea of using cars as camping sites has been favored by many users.

Imagine driving your car away from the hustle and bustle of the city on weekends or holidays, finding a scenic spot, parking your car, and simply decorating the interior to instantly have a warm and unique camping place.

Furthermore, the functional requirement of turning the car interior into a music hall is also included. For many music loving users, cars are not just a means of transportation, but also a mobile music hall. During driving or parking for rest, use the high-quality car audio system to play various music tracks that you love, allowing the melodious melody to flow and echo in the car, as if you are in an exclusive concert venue.

In addition, the functional requirement of using cars as dressing rooms cannot be ignored. In certain scenarios, such as changing clothes after participating in sports activities or quickly changing clothes for different occasions while working outside, providing a relatively private and convenient changing space in the car will undoubtedly bring great convenience to users.

Users no longer need to worry about finding a suitable place to change clothes. They just need to easily complete the change of clothes in the car and continue to immerse themselves in the subsequent journey with ease.

Finally, some users expect cars to have a small kitchen function. Although there may be many limitations in practical operation, this idea reflects users' further pursuit of automotive multifunctionality.

When traveling long distances or outdoors, if you can simply cook some food in the car, such as heating a cup of coffee or making a simple sandwich, it can not only satisfy your appetite, but also add a unique way of life to the entire journey.

summary

There has been a significant change in the perception and usage of cars among young users, who tend to spend longer periods of time in the car as a third living space. Looking ahead, automotive interaction design will continue to develop in depth.

On the one hand, intelligent interactive functions will become more user-friendly and precise, with voice assistants being able to understand more complex instructions and gesture recognition operations being smoother and more natural;

On the other hand, the interior space design will be further optimized around multifunctionality to enhance the user experience in various scenarios. Meanwhile, with the development of autonomous driving technology, interaction design will focus on the entertainment, work, and leisure needs of drivers and passengers in non driving states, such as creating immersive virtual reality entertainment systems or convenient mobile office environments, making cars truly a mobile living space that integrates technology, comfort, and convenience, meeting the growing diversified needs of users, and leading the new trend of future travel