More from the article...

... A wireless charging pad is now the most-desired in-car feature among people intending to buy a new vehicle. Being able to forget about a USB cable and still not run down one's battery topped the list of 163 features that AutoPacific asked about in its annual survey on future demand.

Almost 15,000 people intending to buy a new car within the next three years replied to the survey, with 44 percent ticking the box for wireless charging for the front passengers.

This market research data is rather illuminating; as we test new cars, they're increasingly equipped with features or gadgets that don't seem exactly necessary -- an extra infotainment screen for the front seat passenger, for example, or remote parking via a smartphone app. Sometimes, the features are even mandatory -- several luxury brands won't let you order certain cars without a glass moonroof.

These decisions are justified by product planners as responding to customer demand, so it's helpful to see one of the sources that feeds into that. ...

@#2 ... God help us. ...

Yeah, enabling yet more distraction from actually driving the vehicle.

The survey seems to indicate that drivers are more interested in participating in Facebook or TikTok than actually paying attention to what may be in front of them.

Am I the only one who sees that as a major problem?

@#7 ... I am disappointed that "less crap and a more simple car" didn't make the list. ...

Yup.

Current cars seemed to have evolved into a home entertainment and social media center on wheels.

With basic human-engineering interface factors tossed aside.

VW put touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel. And the result was not not in a happy place.

The dashboard has become a sort of video game for the driver, lots of activity to watch when the driver really should be paying attention to what is in front of the car.

Then there's this whole self-driving beta test that seems to be performed on public streets...