By 2020, federal mandates will require that all hybrid and electric cars make a sound at low speeds for pedestrian safety.
With the number of visually impaired and blind Americans expected to double in the next 30 years, giving these quiet rides some noise is essential.
For car makers, sound is about more than just safety. Sonic branding is on the rise, with the right auditory aesthetics triggering the brain’s amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for mood, emotion, and memory. The idea is, the right audible experience can even affect our behavior, our purchases, and our perception of flavor, scent, and texture.
Read the article at Fortune.