Features
4 Apr 23

The most valuable connected car feature revealed in a global survey

Driving somewhere new? No worries, your GPS knows the way. But what if all the parking spaces are full? To eliminate this anxiety, you need an advanced connected car feature. One that could also offer real-time information on available charging points. 

According to a recent global survey by TechInsights, in-car parking information is the most or the second most valuable information for drivers in regions leading the connected car revolution. The latest Connected Features Interest Survey Report reveals the most crucial driving-related connected features, according to 4,990 respondents in 28 countries: 

  • Need to access parking space information has spiked, especially in China, representing the top second priority.
  • Real-time traffic information is still the priority in many countries, including the U.S.
  • In-car payment solutions are another trend among global drivers, representing a 56% probability of choice for respondents. 

The report provided vital geographical insights:

  • Chinese drivers prioritise in-car parking information, only 1% short of European drivers’ top choice.
  • 70% of American drivers favour traffic information, while 67% say in-car parking information is crucial.
  • Thriving thanks to early adopters, in-car payments are still a trend but rank 12% behind the top global priority.

Why are connected services in high demand? 

  • It boosts driver confidence by reducing complexity.
  • It's easy to use, requiring no physical contact.
  • It increases time efficiency in daily and business life. 

Strong trust in connected services 

The report shows that advanced in-car connected services offer comfort and are reliable in the eyes of drivers, especially young drivers. For Chinese drivers, in-car payments have gone from 'nice to have' to 'highly desirable', establishing a solid level of trust among drivers by meeting the desire for maximum convenience and seamless user experience. 

In the U.S., parking space information is the priority of the 18-to-24 and 35-to-44 age groups, six places above alerts for young drivers. Avoiding alerts as much as possible while being automatically rerouted and locating a parking space at the end of journeys is the top demand of the younger generation. Eliminating parking space anxiety is also the priority of the 18-to-24 age group in Europe, as well as of late adopters. 

The report notes that many OEMs need to catch up by providing a holistic approach to in-demand services and withhold certain features for cost-saving.

Duncan Licence, Chief Product Officer at Parkopedia, is not surprised with the results: “As our roads get busier and drivers’ lives become more hectic, we are not surprised to see demand for journey-related connected features that make driving safer and more convenient, continuing to rise.”

Parkopedia, a global connected services provider, launched the Park and Charge feature in 2021, enabling drivers to: 

  • Find EV chargers without GPS.
  • Enable charging regardless of provider.
  • Enable payments regardless of provider.

Parkopedia partnered with global enterprise booking platform Simplenight last month to offer in-vehicle parking and charging solutions to meet the ever-increasing driver demand. 

Image: Shutterstock

Authored by: Mufit Yilmaz Gokmen