A user experienced connected car features ceasing to function in their 2017 vehicle due to deprecated wireless hardware. They request manufacturers to invest in connectivity hardware and user experience design to ensure long-term functionality and prevent the obsolescence of connected car features.
I came across coverage on our 2025 State of Connected Car Apps report by The Drive — I dropped the link to the article in the comments. It sums up what we’ve been hearing from drivers for a while. Car subscriptions aren't always worth the cost. I've talked about this statistic from our report before: 76% of drivers we surveyed aren’t subscribed to their automaker’s connected services. Half of those who subscribed have free access. And the ones who are paying? Most say they want more features for their money. People aren’t against paying for software. They just don’t want to pay for things that used to be free or feel like they’re getting charged for no reason. The article brings up some great examples, like how BMW backtracked on charging for heated seats. Volvo’s CTO also told The Drive that automakers are rethinking how they monetize software. There's clearly a demand for connected car features, it just needs to be delivered to drivers in different ways. Report aside, we see that at Smartcar too. We see happy drivers using our customers' applications to add to the experience of owning a car from their favorite automaker. Would love to hear thoughts. What connected car features and apps would you pay for?