December 1, 2009 -- A recent survey conducted by Strategy Analytics of vehicle owners in the USA and Western Europe found that drivers increasingly want to be able to use their own devices, such as iPods and MP3 players, via their vehicle’s stereo system. However, the survey found that in-car AM/FM radios and CD players continue to be the most essential entertainment equipment.
“In both the US and UK, [automotive] consumers prefer an audio-in connector to stream music from their personal players through the in-vehicle stereo,” comments Chris Schreiner, senior analyst at Strategy Analytics. “Consumers in France and Germany, however, preferred a USB connection.”
The research consultancy's Automotive Consumer Insights (ACI) report, “Consumers Want Entertainment Device Connectivity,” found that: 83% of consumers listen to their AM/FM radio in their vehicle at least once a week, while 65% listen to their CD player once a week, or more; 22% of consumers in the US consider an audio-in connector a necessity when purchasing their next vehicle; and 22% of consumers in the UK consider digital radio to be essential.
“In the UK, digital radio also showed positive levels of usage, interest and consumer satisfaction,” notes Kevin Nolan, vice president of Strategy Analytics' user experience practice.
