Citation :

Shiv Mehta, "Perceptions of Robotic Car Wash Systems in Maharashtra: A Study of Economic Feasibility, Sustainability, and Cultural Familiarity," International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 58-64, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23942703/IJHSS-V13I5P106

Abstract

Due to an increase in car ownership and purchase in Maharashtra, there has been a very high growth in the number of people demanding car washes in this state. Most of these are highly dependent on the use of conventional techniques in car washing, which causes heavy consumption of water along with its wastage. For promoting sustainable solutions, the use of automated car washing systems using high-pressure air as a substitute for water is being suggested. However, there is still insufficient literature about the cultural perceptions of automated car-washing technology. This is a qualitative-dominant mixed-method research based on the phenomenological approach and has been conducted on 80 individuals living in Maharashtra and ten informal car washers by using interviews and survey techniques. This research identifies socio-cultural and economic factors as well as consumer perceptions that significantly affect the adoption of such technologies. The gap between the creation of sustainable innovations and the local socioeconomic circumstances has allowed the research to add to the ongoing discussion about sustainable services and water consumption. The cost aspect becomes a determining factor (and an obstacle) for many consumers in adopting the new technology of automatic car washing. The worries about the effectiveness of the automated process (one lacking the custom service provision) become another constraint in that regard. This research shows that in order to successfully adopt sustainable service technologies, one needs both technical effectiveness and cost effectiveness.

Keywords

Automated Technology, Car Wash, Maharashtra, Sustainability, Water Conservation.

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