Parking services top drivers’ wish-list

Finding parking spaces is the most desired in-car connected feature, according to the latest Connected Features Interest Survey Report carried out by TechInsights.

The report assessed 28 connected features, with 4,990 drivers in the USA, UK, Germany, France, Italy and China asked to rank their interest in each service to gauge demand.

Driving-related functionality, such as assessing the availability of parking spaces near a destination, traffic alerts and being able to pay for parking, fuel and tolls from the car are amongst the most desirable features globally.

In-car parking information was ranked the most valuable feature cited by Chinese drivers, with European motorists classing it as their second priority, only one per cent behind the top-rated choice, and American respondents placed it at 67%, just three per cent behind their top priority, traffic information.

Duncan Licence, chief product officer at Parkopedia, said: “As our roads get busier and drivers’ lives become more hectic, we are not surprised to see demand for journey-related connected features that make driving safer and more convenient, continuing to rise.

“However, the challenge now for OEMs is to prioritise the most in-demand services and provide a holistic driving experience with the seamless integration of navigation and parking services to take the stress out of their drivers’ journeys. This latest survey shows that many automakers are still lagging behind their customers’ expectations when it comes to delivering the right services, with select OEMs electing to withhold certain connected car features as a cost-saving. However, the data and feedback globally shows that many drivers are likely to avoid certain vehicles or brands if their data, mapping and in-car payment services do not meet today’s expectations.”