Your New Car Has Wi-Fi But Do You Use It?

Automakers are spending billions to put technology in their cars that’s being ignored by many of the owners of those vehicles, according to J.D. Power.

The just-released “2015 Driver Interactive Vehicle Experience (DrIVE) Report,” which measured driver experiences with in-vehicle tech during the first 90 days of ownership, found that one in five new-vehicle owners have never used half of the 33 technology features covered in the survey.

Topping the list of “never used” features are in-vehicle concierge (43%), mobile routers (38%), automatic parking systems (35%), head-up displays (33%), and built-in apps (32%).

One in five new-car owners also identified 14 technology features that they do not want in their next vehicle. Among them: Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto, in-vehicle concierge services, and in-vehicle voice texting. The number of features unwanted by at least 20 percent of Millennial car owners jumped to 23.

“In many cases, owners simply prefer to use their smartphone or tablet because it meets their needs; they’re familiar with the device and it’s accurate,” said Kristin Kolodge, executive director of driver interaction & HMI research at J.D. Power. “In-vehicle connectivity technology that’s not used results in millions of dollars of lost value for both consumers and the manufacturers.”

Among all owners, the most frequently cited reasons for not wanting a specific technology feature in their next vehicle were “did not find it useful” in their current vehicle and the technology “came as part of a package on my current vehicle and I did not want it.”

In addition, owners who say their dealer did not explain the feature have a higher likelihood of never using the technology. Furthermore, features that are not activated when the vehicle is delivered often result in the owner not even knowing they have the technology in their new vehicle. Kolodge noted that the technologies owners most often want are those that enhance the driving experience and safety, which are only available as a built-in feature rather than via an external device. In-vehicle technologies that most owners do want include vehicle health diagnostics, blind-spot warning and detection, and adaptive cruise control

Use of in-vehicle technologies has implications beyond the auto industry. For example, the insurance industry is closely tracking automotive technology for safety and financial purposes. Insurers are concerned that difficult-to-use technology may distract drivers and cause an accident. Using smartphones instead of in-vehicle technology also creates safety issues. Additionally, in-vehicle technology can significantly increase claims costs for vehicles damaged in an accident.

“While some technologies, such as lane-departure warning, are making vehicles safer, the insurance industry is very concerned about the driver-distraction hazards caused by some of the other technologies,” said Chip Lackey, senior director of the insurance practice at J.D. Power. “In addition, technology drives up the repair and replacement costs. A slight bumper scrape that would normally cost a few hundred dollars to repair can catapult a claim into thousands of dollars when a park assist camera or other sensors are damaged.”

The 2015 Driver Interactive Vehicle Experience (DrIVE) Report is based on responses from more than 4,200 vehicle owners and lessees after 90 days of ownership. The report was fielded in April through June 2015.

COMMENTS
canman4pm's picture

In British Columbia, the state owned insurer, ICBC (from whom all BC residents are required to buy their Basic, mandatory coverage and from whom 75% of residents buy their optional Collision coverage), will not cover collisions resulting from the use of automated parking systems. ICBC may not be unique in this: consult your insurance provider to be sure.

Alex92's picture

I don't think people will use Wi-Fi in cars because its just not safe for them and other motorist bestcarsbrands.com.

mcnallyev's picture

Hi to all of you. For electric car usage to become more widespread, installation is essential. Because they enable overnight EV Charger Installation charging, home installations are practical. However, for long-distance transport and urban accessibility, public infrastructure expansion is essential. In order to create a comprehensive charging network that would motivate more people to adopt environmentally friendly transportation options, cooperation between the public and private sectors is needed.

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