Safety & Security Telematics such as OnStar and GPS tracking is now at a penetration of 30 percent of new U.S. cars, said ABI Research.
By 2017, 75 percent of new cars in the U.S. will offer telematics for safety & security, added ABI. The telematics category also includes Usage Based Insurance (where drivers share their driving mileage to receive discounts on insurance rates).
ABI’s Dominique Bonte says the aftermarket can also participate in the category through vehicle tracing and Usage Based Insurance.
Leading telematics systems include OnStar with 6 million users, and Ford Sync (with its 911 Assist) with 4 million users, as well as Hyundai BlueLInk, Mercedes mbrace, BMW Connected Drive and Toyota Safety Connected.
Ford and State Farm announced in May, a program to offer a usage based insurance program for Ford Sync owners. Sync already keeps track of a car’s mileage, so that data may be used by State Farm to calculate discounts..
State Farm also offers a usage based insurance discount to owners of Onstar FMV mirrors.
ABI’s Findings are part of its “Safety and Security Telematics” market report.
Source: ABI Research
