Self-driving cars generate a lot of headlines. But there's already a new kind of car on the road that's completely changing the vehicle market, and the way drivers can access media.
The connected car is equipped with internet connections and software that allow people to stream music, look up movie times, be alerted of traffic and weather conditions, and even power driving-assistance services such as self-parking.
According the Business Insider, the connected-car market is growing 10 times as fast as the overall car market. By 2020, an estimated 75% of cars shipped globally will be built with the necessary hardware to connect to the internet.
Connected-car vehicle prices are out of reach for most car buyers today, but they are expected to drop significantly in the next few years. Right now, the technology exists only in the luxury car category, but as with new all auto technology (think anti-lock breaks, backup cameras, heated seats), connected features will soon trickle down into the mid-priced and economy categories, and eventually, become standard equipment.
The inevitability of connected cars means that NHPR must adapt. Our radio signal will still be available through connected car dashboards, but so will an endless menu of on-demand content, like podcasts, Pandora-like apps, and radio stations in other parts of the country streaming over the internet.
NHPR's challenge is to anticipate and adapt to what changing cars will mean for our business model. Right now, we rely on out listeners to tune in to our programs while in their cars. Starting today, we must plan to adapt, both by producing content our listeners can't live without, and by making sure we are delivering that content in a manner that integrates seamlessly with the dashboards of the future.
Adapted from Business Insider's blog