2016 Ford Trend Report Shows Consumers are Hopeful Despite Challenges
Reputable auto maker, Ford has said its ‘Looking Further with Ford 2016’ trend report reveals a renewed sense of inspiration and ingenuity among consumers striving for a better quality of life in the New Year. According to the company, “despite an underlying sense of disillusionment, consumers are more inspired to defy the odds and use innovation to embrace new platforms for change.”
Through the trends Ford was identified for 2016, the company said it is exploring how technology, sustainability and collaboration are being leveraged so that it can help create solutions to improve how consumers live, work, and even travel in the future.
“In our four years of researching and compiling consumer trends, never have we seen optimism, resilience and self-reliance figure so prominently,”
Ford global trend and futuring manager. “It gives us hope for what the future holds, and we see that same creativity and enterprising spirit driving innovation in every part of our business at Ford,” said Sheryl Connelly.
Some key consumer findings are that changing views on health, consumption, transportation and work models are upending traditional ways of thinking, with innovation and technology rapidly ascending to transform culture and consumer behaviour. Among the findings are that globally, more than half of Millennials agree that standing out is more important than fitting in – revealing an increased focus on self-reliance and purposefulness; consumers are eager to spread good news and are more likely to share positive stories on social media; members of an expanding ageing population are proactively seeking to prolong their quality of life and personal freedoms.
The report also finds that while innovation is driving new ways to enhance quality of life, demands for connectivity and time are increasing, resulting in a society that is always on-call; “efficiency and utility are the hallmarks for how we are now living and consuming. With Americans spending nearly five hours per day on their mobile phone, consumers are looking for ways to be less mind-full and more mindful, living smarter and pushing to get greater use out of fewer things.”
What’s trending for 2016
Ford’s report is a blueprint for understanding how these 10 trends are expected to influence consumers and brands for 2016 and beyond: Embracing Heroes: Where goodwill is faltering among established leadership, it’s gaining with communities and individuals who are rethinking what it means to be a good citizen, neighbour and person. Everyday heroes are stepping up to the plate, and they’re inspiring others to do the same.
Swiss Army Life: A rising emphasis on self-reliance has created an ethos of purposefulness and utility. Better living today is not about having more things – it’s about living smarter by pushing to get greater use out of fewer things.
Time Poverty: “So much to do, so little time” has always been one of life’s conundrums. Yet with greater connectivity, we’re increasingly on-call, and time proves more elusive than ever.