No sync? No thanks!

In case you were in doubt as to how much smartphones rule our lives, a new study reveals that car buyers will not purchase a vehicle that doesn’t provide adequate mobile phone connection. The National Road Safety Partnership Program (NRSPP) has published details of the research which shows that other factors including styling, price and fuel economy can’t be trumped by an inability to connect.

The McKinsey study was used by Nissan in the UK to better understand feature-driven purchase behaviour and found that:

• 28% of new car buyers prioritise car connectivity over other features, such as fuel efficiency;
• 13% would not buy a car that’s not connected to the internet;
• 20% would switch to another car brand for better connectivity.

NRSPP is interested in the study as it relates to the safe use of mobiles in vehicles — the subject of a working group initiated by the organisation which will soon publish a policy guide on the safe use of mobile phones in vehicles.

For Nissan, the study has informed research and development efforts to ensure seamless mobile integration — no small feat in the face of continually changing technology. The company sees this as imperative for further improvements in autonomous driving to ensure that safety and security remain top priorities.