Understanding these consumers will be critically important to the success of any newcomer,' he said.

'Not only are a significant number of people willing to consider Chinese and Indian brands, this group consists of highly desirable buyers who would be coveted by any manufacturer,' Peterson said.

The study shows those looking out for Chinese and Indian cars are likely to currently own Japanese and Korean brands, indicating that these brands may face a lot of competition from the new entrants, rather than domestic brands - Chrysler, Ford or GM.

More than 30,000 buyers across the US were interviewed for the survey.