Real-World Impact
To gauge effectiveness of various manufactures’ mobile apps, AutoPacific polled a group of current vehicle owners that fall under the Generation Y and Generation Z umbrellas on how having access to remote connectivity contributes to everyday life:
“I use it (MySubaru app) daily in the winter and on hot days in the summer to star my car. The lock and unlock comes in handy when needed, but I don’t use it every day” -Adam, 37
“I turn on the climate control on colder mornings in my 2014 Nissan Leaf.”-Colton, 28
“I use it (FordPass app) to lock and unlock my Ford Escape when I can’t remember if I did it or not” -Emily, 37
“I only check the charging status if I'm on the road at a public charger. At home I never look at it (Tesla app) because it fills up overnight and is good to go. I also use it in the morning to warm up the car.” -Chris, 38
These responses reflect much of what AutoPacific’s Feature Attribute Demand Study revealed about specific remote functionality. For example, 79% of respondents who want remote connectivity with their vehicle would utilize it for a remote start function. 75% would use remote connectivity to lock or unlock their vehicle’s doors, while 72% would choose to pull out their smartphone or glance at their smartwatch to locate their vehicle in say, an overcrowded parking lot.
Remote Connectivity is Here to Stay
As more young buyers enter the marketplace for a new vehicle, AutoPacific expects remote connectivity is here to stay. Manufacturers should continue to pursue offering some type of remote connectivity, whether through mobile apps or “smart speaker” compatibility.