Aug. 26, 2015—Most vehicle owners are not using the in-vehicle technology and features that automakers have invested billions in, according to a report by USA Today. A J.D. Power survey found that at least 20 percent of new vehicle owners have not used 16 of the 33 technology features measured in the J.D. Power 2015 Driver Interactive Vehicle Experience (DrIVE) Report.
The least-used technologies include in-vehicle concierge services, mobile routers, automatic parking systems, head-up displays and built-in apps.
The survey received responses from 4,200 vehicle owners and lessees after 90 days of ownership and found that one in five owners do not want 14 high-tech features in their next vehicle, including Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto.
One in five millennials say that there are 23 features that they do not want in their new car. Most of those features are related to entertainment and connectivity systems.
“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, according to USA Today. “In-vehicle connectivity technology that’s not used results in millions of dollars of lost value for both consumers and the manufacturers.”
The survey did find that car owners did not want to get rid of technologies and features all together. The survey found that owners want their car to be equipped with technology that improves safety and performance. Health diagnostics, blind-spot warning and detection, and adaptive cruise control were all rated favorably in the survey, according to the report.
