Pandemic Reinforces Desire for Vacations on Four Wheels

Cars continue to gain in importance as a result of the pandemic and have
become an integral part of many people’s travel and leisure-time habits. This is one of the key
findings of the representative Continental Mobility Study 2022, which renowned market research
company infas conducted worldwide on behalf of Continental. For this purpose, 1,000 German
citizens between the ages of 18 and 70 were surveyed on their personal mobility needs in May
2022. According to the study, a majority of people in Germany regard cars as an essential part of
their mobility and their personal living space. 54 percent of study respondents see their car as a
place of personal refuge. More than half (53 percent1) use a car or camper van/motor home for
vacation trips. Against the backdrop of long waiting and check-in times at airports, canceled or
heavily overcrowded public transportation, for example in the wake of the €9 monthly travel pass
introduced in Germany to cushion rising fuel prices, the safety and comfort of their own car have
become more important for 61 percent of German respondents when it comes to their vacation.
The vast majority of those who reported having traveled during the pandemic asserted in the
survey that they intend to continue using either their car (84 percent) or their camper van/motor
home (60 percent) just as much or even more once the pandemic is over.

People want to travel safely, conveniently and with freedom
This is the overall trend revealed by the study. People want driving to be safer and more
convenient, but also more sustainable – and they want it to fit in with their personal lifestyle. More
than half of the survey participants (55 percent) have used their cars more frequently since the
start of the pandemic.
Tailored solutions for changing mobility requirements
With its product portfolio and innovations, Continental delivers tailored solutions for the changing
demands placed on mobility. The technology and system components that Continental is supplying
for the new Volkswagen ID. Buzz are one example. The latest addition to VW’s famous line of
microbuses sets new standards for an increasingly conscious lifestyle and mobility that is geared
toward freedom while also focusing on sustainability.
As a close cooperation and development partner of Volkswagen for many years, Continental
played a significant role in the design and development of the ID. Buzz. The technology company
made important technological contributions in virtually all areas of the cult van – from the software
and central computer architecture to the brakes and the sophisticated thermal management
system for cooling the batteries, for example.
VW ID. Buzz: Continental supplies a host of technology and system components
Continental supplies a variety of high-performance components developed in-house for the ID.
Buzz, including the In-Car Application Server 1 (ICAS 1). As a fully connected server, the ICAS 1
forms the central data hub in the vehicle and acts as an interface between the ID. Buzz and the
digital world. Developed by Continental in close collaboration with its subsidiary Elekrobit, the
central high-performance computer, which also supplies the operating system, allows new software
functions and security updates to be installed in the vehicle at any time via a wireless connection.
At the same time, the ICAS 1 offers range-optimized route planning and locates charging stations
for the electric microbus, rendering “electric” traveling easier and more convenient.
Continental also developed a so-called plug-and-charge function for the ICAS 1, whereby the
server’s software is able to authenticate the registered vehicle at supported charging stations when
the charging cable is plugged in both at home and abroad and takes care of the charging process
and payment on the basis of the stored charging contract.

People want to travel safely, conveniently and with freedom
This is the overall trend revealed by the study. People want driving to be safer and more
convenient, but also more sustainable – and they want it to fit in with their personal lifestyle. More
than half of the survey participants (55 percent) have used their cars more frequently since the
start of the pandemic.
Tailored solutions for changing mobility requirements
With its product portfolio and innovations, Continental delivers tailored solutions for the changing
demands placed on mobility. The technology and system components that Continental is supplying
for the new Volkswagen ID. Buzz are one example. The latest addition to VW’s famous line of
microbuses sets new standards for an increasingly conscious lifestyle and mobility that is geared
toward freedom while also focusing on sustainability.
As a close cooperation and development partner of Volkswagen for many years, Continental
played a significant role in the design and development of the ID. Buzz. The technology company
made important technological contributions in virtually all areas of the cult van – from the software
and central computer architecture to the brakes and the sophisticated thermal management
system for cooling the batteries, for example.
VW ID. Buzz: Continental supplies a host of technology and system components
Continental supplies a variety of high-performance components developed in-house for the ID.
Buzz, including the In-Car Application Server 1 (ICAS 1). As a fully connected server, the ICAS 1
forms the central data hub in the vehicle and acts as an interface between the ID. Buzz and the
digital world. Developed by Continental in close collaboration with its subsidiary Elekrobit, the
central high-performance computer, which also supplies the operating system, allows new software
functions and security updates to be installed in the vehicle at any time via a wireless connection.
At the same time, the ICAS 1 offers range-optimized route planning and locates charging stations
for the electric microbus, rendering “electric” traveling easier and more convenient.
Continental also developed a so-called plug-and-charge function for the ICAS 1, whereby the
server’s software is able to authenticate the registered vehicle at supported charging stations when
the charging cable is plugged in both at home and abroad and takes care of the charging process
and payment on the basis of the stored charging contract.

Publication of full study results planned for end of June 2022
Continental plans to publish the latest mobility study with the full results from all six participating
countries at the end of June 2022. For the 2022 edition, a total of 6,000 people aged 18 and over
in Germany, France, Norway, the USA, Japan and China were surveyed in May 2022 about their
personal mobility needs both in everyday life and in relation to travel and leisure. In each country,
the respective sample is representative of the population; for China, it is representative of the
urban population. The aim of the Continental Mobility Study, now in its seventh edition, is to
provide an international comparison of people’s attitudes toward current and future developments
in mobility and their personal usage habits. The topics covered in this year’s mobility study include
general mobility needs, attitudes toward sustainability aspects, particularly in terms of electric
mobility, as well as economic and technological developments related to cars. Against the
backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, a particular focus of the study was on the role of cars as a
possible sanctuary and place of retreat in connection with travel and vacations.