Connected services in cars are of no interest: there are fewer and fewer connected users each time

For several years now, cars have offered the opportunity to access several connected services via an internet connection. The key point is that these services are provided through a SIM card fitted to the vehicle, which allows the infotainment system to access a browser, streaming services and other features that make it a connected vehicle, and that does not require external devices linked to it to do so.

But it turns out that these connected services are only free of subscription for one to three years, depending on each brand’s offer. From that moment on, you must pay a monthly subscription to keep accessing the service. And that is when the number of subscribers falls alarmingly.

A study carried out by S&P Global Mobility shows that the number of subscribers drops when the subscription period offered by the brands ends. There may be many reasons for this, but perhaps the most important is the obligation to pay a monthly or annual subscription for these services.

In reality, we all have an external device, such as a smartphone, which gives us access to all these services. And in many cases the vehicle’s system allows the smartphone’s services to be played on the vehicle’s multimedia screen. This makes them somewhat redundant, so connected services come across as irrelevant.

The study shows that in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil and Japan, to name just a few, most users say that, despite having this option, they are not subscribed to connected services. In the United States, a country accustomed to subscription services, 19% of users enjoy a free subscription and 35% pay the monthly fee that gives them access to these services.

In Asian countries such as India, China and South Korea, many users make use of a free subscription, more than double the figure in the United States. There are also more users with paid subscriptions, and China is where the most paying users are.

Reasons why no subscription is paid

As we have mentioned, the lack of payment for this subscription is justified by the use offered with the smartphone, which can be played on the multimedia screen. Another reason is the loss of privacy. These connected services require registration and monitoring of the activity carried out during the journey.

All of this makes connected services very attractive, but they are perceived as duplicating those offered on the smartphone and a risk to the privacy of the data used while driving.