LOS ANGELES-Approximately half of those equipped with telematics systems use the services they provide and will continue to pay for them after the typical year-long free trial period ends, according to a recent Driscoll-Wolfe survey.
In a nationwide telephone survey of 600 owners of cars equipped with either GM OnStar or Mercedes TeleAid, 45 percent said they have used one or more of the services available with their telematics systems, while 55 percent had not used any of the services. Fifty-one percent said they had decided to pay a monthly or annual fee to continue telematics services after the first year of free service, while 37 percent decided not to continue service and 12 percent were undecided.
Of those who will pay to continue service, 93 percent said they were most motivated to do so for emergency notification, 48 percent for routing assistance and 37 percent for hands-free calling.
