If you think your customers aren’t literally tied to the web, think again.

Recent survey results* from Metova, a global provider of mobile, connected car, connected home and IoT solutions, revealed that more than half of respondents own a car that connects to the internet — either directly or via their phone.

And, 67 percent said they would switch to a different entertainment service if internet were readily available in their new vehicle.

Reading between the lines, these data points about “the connected car” also are a barometer of consumers’ current and future expectations for in-vehicle technology. And, as adoption rates continue to climb, so too do service and repair opportunities. <http://www.import-car.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/editor-4-823600.jpg>Even more enlightening to me were other findings from the Metova survey, notably these, which provide a snapshot of general consumer trends and sentiments regarding their vehicles:

• More than half of respondents have a 2014 or newer vehicle.
• Eighty percent are happy with the technology currently available in their car.
• Eighty-eight percent of consumers value new technology in their vehicles.
• One out of five new car shoppers would walk away from a potential new purchase that featured everything they wanted in a car (price, brand, design, power, mpg, etc.), if it didn’t have the latest connected technology included.

All of this signals a more discerning customer with a more sophisticated mindset for vehicle technology — those who would be willing to spend the money to maintain their desire for connectivity, security, safety, convenience and accessibility — in an instant.

They will likely have equal demands from a service and support perspective. Will you be ready to surpass their expectations?

*Metova conducted the survey of more than 1,200 of its U.S. customers.