The automobile sector is getting more tech savvy with each passing day. When connected technology was first launched in India in pre-Covid times, customers were sceptical over its usage. Come 2025, an annual survey on automotive industry trends by S&P Global revealed that Indian car owners are one of the top customers to not only use this technology but also recommend it to other car owners.
Based on the survey on active connected services country-wise, Indians are the second highest consumers to use connected car tech after China, leaving behind developed markets like the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and the United States of America.
Bet you didn’t know: 46% of Indians are hooked on free connected car tech
According to the S&P Global report, Mainland China leads the way with 53% of respondents using the free trial, connected with 32% of car owners looking to opt for a paid service. India, on the other hand, is second when it comes to using the trial features, with 46%, but it narrowly beats China, as 33% want to take up the subscription. Indian consumers are the second highest in this survey to pay for the tech after the United States, with 35% of respondents.
The survey says that the 2025 results reveal a 5% increase from 2024 in global respondents who do not subscribe to any connected car services. The top two reasons behind this are cost or subscription, and the second is the availability of similar connected services on smartphones. What’s surprising is that a fifth of the respondents have not opted for a connected subscription, as they are not aware of such services.
Concerns over connected car tech
Transparency is a major question mark when it comes to data privacy and is the automobile industry’s biggest stumbling block. The authorities need to set up stringent data policies to protect the consumer’s information, like driving data (location, habits, etc.), which can be misused by unauthorised parties.
Lack of awareness about the full potential of connected technology leads to lack of trust among the consumers. Connected services are not necessarily a primary consideration when purchasing new vehicles. The S&P Global survey states that the number of respondents who would pay for connected services has significantly decreased, from 86% in 2024 to 68% in 2025.
