Under-18 Americans Eager to Own Cars

Almost one in four members of the American population is under 18 years of age—and 92% of them want to own a car, according to research by Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book.

The so-called Generation Z will wield some $3.2 trillion in purchasing power by 2020. The survey of more than 3,000 U.S. residents between 12 and 65 years old finds significant differences in the preferences of these young consumers and those in other segments of the U.S. population.

Compared to older groups, for example, Gen Z respondents more strongly favor practical transportation from trusted brands. They are more focused on price and fuel efficiency (and less on style an brand status) than even their slightly older Millennial siblings.

The poll says teenage Gen Z buyers also place more importance on vehicle safety than all other population segments did when they were teens. The proportion ranges from 43% of Gen Z members to only 9% for Baby Boomers.

Gen Z considers safety (43%) more important than infotainment features (35%), according to the survey. More than half find fully self-driving vehicles appealing, and nearly half want most cars a decade from now to be able to drive themselves.

Still, two-thirds of Gen Z members don’t fully trust the technology behind autonomous vehicles. Two in five question whether fully automatic cars will perform as well as human-driven vehicles do.