The carmaker companies are starting to understand that infotainment systems are becoming one of the essential elements of a modern vehicle. The major brands are seeking to fix the current design issues in their infotainment systems and to create more efficient solutions for their future car models.
The JD Power's Vehicle Dependability Study reports that problems related to vehicle infotainment systems are on the top of the list of customer complaints for the second year in a row. Most of the issues reported are related to poor connectivity performance that also have a negative effect on the vehicle reliability.
According to Autoblog, the way how our cars interact with us and the external technology is becoming an increasingly higher priority for consumers today. However, many new infotainment systems still struggle with simple tasks as Bluetooth pairing and many automakers are performing poorly in terms of mobile integration.
Most of the infotainment interfaces present in cars today lack continuity since they are often an amalgamation of different pieces of software. This leads often to difficult-to-access features and too complex menu trees.
Infotainment performance has become an essential matter for carmakers nowadays. The technology already exists. But the problem is that most often a five-year-old smartphone may react quicker than a "new" infotainment system. Some brand new infotainment systems could feel outdated right out of the box, because carmakers are also slow to embrace new standards.
In this context, applications such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay represent a significant improvement, a step in the right direction. They provide an interface customized for in-car operation, with good constancy from device to dashboard. However, in most implementations the two systems are not yet well integrated with the rest of the car and they limit the functionality of associated mobile devices.
Several automakers have adopted another alternative called Mirrorlink. It is also expected that the device makers and automakers to collaborate for the implementation of an open standard solution.
According to Richmond Times-Dispatch, carmakers are striving to design more comfort and convenience features as well as more high-tech safety systems, even in the lowest priced models. One example is the redesigned Honda Civic sedan that can be equipped with many high-tech gadgets, such as lane-keeping "assist," forward-collision warning and adaptive cruise control.
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