The impact of the pandemic and other major events of 2020 have been emotionally trying for many worldwide and according to Ford's annual trends report, people are now looking to prioritize their mental health.

"Sixty-nine percent of the people that we surveyed in 14 different countries said that they were overwhelmed by changes taking place in the world and almost the exact same number say that they find it stressful following the daily news," said Sheryl Connelly, Ford's chief futurist, who explained that her role is to examine changes in consumer behavior.

The report examines a number of factors including social, economic, and political shifts, and how they have impacted consumers and offers insights that help guide company planning.  

Since the pandemic's start, consumer behavior has changed tremendously, with particular attention being paid to health and wellness. Among those changes are how people view transportation in the era of COVID-19.

"Our survey showed that 50 percent or more said that they are less likely to take a bus, a train, an airplane, or subway.  [Seventy-six] percent of the people that we surveyed said that they could not imagine life without their own personal vehicle," Connelly said.

While a boost in auto sales may not be the best thing for the environment, Ford is still working to ramp up efforts to expand its electric vehicle fleet. The best-selling F-150 is one of the vehicles scheduled to get an electric makeover.

"It's actually part of [Ford's] longer-term strategy of showing consumers that going electric does not mean any sort of compromise. In fact, many people enjoy driving electric vehicles more than the traditional internal combustion engine because of the acceleration," she said.

The report also found that people are looking for brands not to only get behind efforts to save the environment, but also to support social movements and act in a transparent manner.

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