The electronic age isn’t just changing how people work and play, it is also transforming how they drive. With developers racing to put the first autonomous vehicles on the road and make vehicles more connected, consumers are embracing the changes, according to a new survey released by Nielsen.
The company’s Connected Life Report includes data gathered from 5,985 Americans ages 18 and up between late May and early June 2014. Respondents completed a self-administered, online survey after professing they were extremely, very or somewhat interested in connected life technologies such as connected homes, cars and/or wearable technologies.
The study revealed that a majority of those interested in connected cars were men (58%). About 42% of respondents interested in connected vehicles were age 55 or older and 62% had at least a college degree. Many of those drawn to connected cars (37%) also earned $100,000 a year or more.
There were a number of factors that drew respondents to say they were interested in purchasing connected cars down the road. Some of the results of Nielsen’s survey included:
- Enhanced safety (79% said they felt connected car safety features would make them feel safer)
- Crash notifications (64% said this feature of a connected car was very important)
- Internet navigation (58% found this feature very important)
- Safety alerts (51% found this very important)
Nielsen also learned in its Music 360 report that the appeal of connected cars goes beyond safety to include entertainment. In that survey, some 46% of connected car users say they use driving analytics while 41% say they use wireless hotspots when they’re on the road.
A total of 36% said they streamed audio every time they were in their cars while 26% admitted to using the Internet every time they drive.
As motorists demand more connectivity, its value to the auto industry is also growing. A recently released report by McKinsey & Company estimated the revenue involved with connected-car technology could grow by as much as six times its current level by the end of this decade. That adds up to about $230 billion.
While enhanced safety features, entertainment options and other bells and whistles define today’s connected cars, some automakers aren’t satisfied with letting the trend stop there.
“Maybe five or six years from now I think we’ll be able to achieve true autonomous driving where you could literally get in the car, go to sleep and wake up at your destination,” Tesla Motor’s Elon Musk was quoted by Business Insider as saying.
While Musk anticipates it will take several years to get approval for the new technology once it is road ready, he’s confident Tesla will be the first across the finish line.
In the meantime, Tesla has recently released its Model S that comes complete with an autopilot feature that monitors speed limits, observes and avoids obstacles and can even change lanes on its own following a prompt from a driver.
Just how much connectivity connected cars will gain over the coming years remains to be seen, but the quest for advances is helping shape the automotive industry today.
