By Amy Gilroy
About 42 percent of all in-dash car radios sold at retail in 2011 were Bluetooth equipped, according to The NPD Group.
It’s recent study found that Bluetooth and wireless connectivity is gaining in popularity and use.
Even though wireless connectivity is only available in 13 percent of cars, more than half of car owners with a built-in Bluetooth or wireless phone connection installed said they always use it or use it most of the time.
Consumers are also connecting their digital media devices through a variety of ways. While 18 percent of vehicle owners have an auxiliary input installed into their vehicle stereo system, 11 percent are connecting through a USB port. Despite being present in just 13 percent of vehicles, wireless connectivity is gaining in use.
Nearly four-in-ten (38 percent) smartphone owners have accessed Pandora (NYSE:P) or some other music streaming service on their phone while in a vehicle, an indication that connected content is gaining traction in the car.
The findings are from an NPD Study on car audio connectivity called Mobile CE: A Look Inside the Vehicle.
Source: NPD
Amy Gilroy is the Editor of CEoutlook and a Contributing Author to Market Playground and Satellite Radio Playground.
