Unlocking the value of mobility data

82% of drivers are ready to connect their cars

  • 20% of cars are already connected
  • 75% of all connected cars have pre-installed connectivity, while 25% rely on third-party services
  • Alliances like Ganvam and Movistar, with Net4things as technological partner, democratize services related to mobile connectivity

Madrid, 2 March 2021. – 82.4% of drivers in Spain are willing to connect their vehicles to turn them into smart cars, according to data from Roland Berger for the National Association of Motor Vehicle, Repair and Spare Vehicle Sellers (GANVAM).

At present, only 20% of vehicles on the road are connected, so there is still plenty to be done for connected cars. Ganvam’s forecasts show that in just over four years, 35% of cars will be connected and, by 2030, around 40%. By that time, 100% of cars less than five years old will be connected.

While the development of the 5G network will speed up the implementation of the connected car, services are already available using current technology related to the popularization of smartphones. However, given that 75% of connected cars are currently new models with pre-installed connectivity, alliances such as Ganvam and Movistar, with Net4things as a technological partner, democratize services related to mobile connectivity. This means, on one hand, that all drivers can benefit from the advantages of connected cars and, secondly, that distribution networks have direct contact with their drivers, allowing for loyalty strategies based on personalized services.

Efficient mobility planning

In a context where data collection and analysis will be essential for efficient mobility planning, connectivity means not only hours saved in traffic jams and reductions in emissions thanks to intelligent navigation services and route optimization, but also improved safety with roadside assistance and automatic emergency calls in the event of an accident; this is the service Spanish drivers value most when considering connected cars.

Along the same lines, at a time when trends are moving toward reducing cars on the road by increasing how much each one is used, connectivity will be a key factor for vehicle distributors to move beyond selling cars and start selling mobility services that anticipate drivers’ needs, thanks to the possibility of monitoring cars in real time.

For Raul Palacios, president of Ganvam, “Connectivity is the true turning point in mobility, but upgrading cars to new, connected models is not within everyone’s reach. For this reason, third-party services that connect cars will democratize a sector that offers benefits to drivers and lays the foundation for the future of distribution, which will be providing mobility services.”

Borja de Nicolás, Director of Marketing on Telefónica Spain’s New Residential Business team, highlights that “these figures show the importance that users give to the connected car for safer driving. In this sense, we are committed to alliances such as the one established with Ganvam and their entire distribution network, allowing us to connect vehicles without pre-installed connectivity through services such as Movistar Car.”

Joaquín García-Baquero, CEO of Net4things, affirms, “We are convinced that, in the current panorama, we have to adopt a relevant position to breathe life into the distribution network. To that end, connecting cars is the fastest and most agile solution on the market. The data generated allows for better decisions creating mobility services, facilitating the development of joint business strategies for these companies, with opportunities to increase revenue in transformative times like these.”