If a car gets a flat tire far from populated areas, most drivers would prefer to see a representative of Generation X nearby rather than a young motorist. This conclusion was reached by Autotrader analysts who surveyed about 3,000 drivers from different countries. The study showed that Generation X (people born approximately from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s) are considered the most competent in car maintenance. In the USA, 67% of respondents trust them, in Portugal — 64%, in the Netherlands — 63%, and in the UK — 61%.

Источник изображения: Chatgpt

Generation Z showed completely opposite results. In the USA, UK, Portugal, and Australia, none of the surveyed named young drivers as the most reliable helpers when changing a tire or performing simple repairs on the road.

At the same time, Generation Z representatives themselves rate their skills significantly higher. Depending on the country, 30 to 45% of young drivers are confident that they can perform basic car repairs independently. Moreover, most of those who have already tried to repair a car themselves stated that they successfully coped with the task and did not worsen the malfunction.

Experts believe that such a low level of trust is associated not so much with real skills as with a change in the ways of acquiring knowledge. While older generations learned to maintain cars in practice — from parents, familiar mechanics, or independently — young motorists more often get information from videos, social networks, and digital services.

This trend is also evident in the use of artificial intelligence. In the UK, 86% of Generation Z representatives are ready to turn to AI for car maintenance advice — this is the highest indicator among all age groups. Globally, 65% of young drivers consider this possibility.

When a breakdown occurs, most motorists still prefer to seek help from people rather than technology. According to Autotrader, 39% first call relatives or friends, 30% call roadside assistance, 19% turn to a professional mechanic. Only 6% immediately look for advice online, and the same number try to fix the malfunction completely on their own.

The study shows that trust in automotive skills is built over years of practical experience. However, as more information becomes available digitally, the generational differences may gradually narrow.

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