Roland
Bouchara, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Citroën India,
highlights the objective and a key finding from the research, “Comfort – or its
absence – represents a defining element of the driving experience; it is also a
key consideration for road users and vehicle purchasers. This research provides unique insight into
how and where Indians seek comfort, with respect to the daily lives, but also
with respect to how they travel. Initial findings, for instance, demonstrate
the profound impact the pandemic has had on people’s sense and definition of
comfort; 25% respondents would have been most comfortable in a private car for
short journeys (up to 3km) prior to the pandemic, a figure that has risen to
34% today. Preference for shared/public transport (buses/trains)) has declined
from 28% to just 12% in the same period.”
In
automotive world, the element of comfort is synonymous with Citroën. The aspect
of the Citroën comfort philosophy encapsulates the ideas of practicality and
versatility to make driving and travel easier. The easier a car is to live with
every day, the more enjoyable and comfortable it will be to own. For Citroën,
functional comfort applies to the combination of highly ergonomic, easy-to-use
cabin designs with technology that is intuitive and easy to operate. In the
wider automotive sector, technology continues to take on greater prominence in
cars; in some cases, to the detriment of user-friendliness. By contrast,
Citroën has sought to apply new technology in such a way as to make its cars
easier to use, with functionality enhancing comfort. The development of cars
that offer maximum ‘living comfort’ is a thread that span’s Citroën’s entire
history.
Speaking
ahead of the launch of the new Citroën C5 Aircross SUV in India, Roland
Bouchara reinforced the brand’s link and commitment to comfort and explained
that comfort – in all its forms – represented a core value of the brand. “Since
1919, Citroën has been at the forefront of automotive comfort, from the
revolutionary ‘MoteurFlottant’ [floating engine] to the innovative Suspension
with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions. Citroën’s benchmark in comfort is
reflected in the Citroën Advanced Comfort programme, aimed at bringing
unprecedented comfort to every passenger. For us, comfort is a principle consideration
for the entire driving experience. Our
designs and features aim to reduce the mental load on the driver, combining
clever driver aids with light, spacious cabin formats. All these elements
translate into a stress-free travelling environment, innovative solutions and
smart technology dedicated to ensuring the well-being of body and mind for all
passengers.”
Citroën
India’s ‘Comfortology’ research also revealed some fascinating differences
between Indians’ comfort levels; nearly a quarter (23%) find working from home
(WFM) ‘extremely comfortable’, while a similar proportion (22%) describe it as
quite the opposite (‘extremely uncomfortable’).
In
terms of gender, women appeared more comfortable managing the demands of work
and home life during confinement than their male counterparts; two thirds (66%)
of female respondents were ‘comfortable’ or ‘extremely comfortable’ juggling
both responsibilities during COVID-19, compared to just 49% of men.
The
findings were published in advance of a detailed report examining the changing
nature and sources of comfort in India being published by Citroën India.
Citroën India’s ‘Comfortology’ report will be published, in full, in January
2021.