Will the car serve as a payment portal for subscription services?

Connected cars will create additional revenue streams throughout their lifetime. The initial sale of the vehicle will provide a lump sum up front, but long-term income is expected to come from services sold as add-ons.

This dynamic mirrors what has been seen in the consumer electronics space, where the sale of a smartphone, tablet or even television is eclipsed by recurring subscription fees that generate revenue for years to come. How this will work in practice is still being fleshed out. Will there be a card reader mounted in the vehicle, or will digital payments be accepted via infotainment screens in the cabin? Perhaps payments could be made via the car’s digital assistant, or will a smartphone app be enough?

Regardless, it seems logical that the user experience (UX) will have a part to play. Convincing passengers and drivers to spend their money should be convenient and intuitive.

Efforts to monetise

It remains very early days for