UK In-Car Technology Market Analysis
The UK in-car technology market is growing, with more than 70% of UK adults owning a car in 2025. There is a strong demand for safety navigation features, and growing interest in electric vehicles. Significant challenges include high costs, privacy concerns, and distraction fears. Innovations in smart charging, driver safety assistance systems, and automated diagnostics present significant opportunities in the UK automotive market, particularly in electric vehicles and advanced safety features, though self-driving systems face more limited consumer acceptance
UK In-Car Technology Market Trends
Safety remains a top priority for consumers, with the majority of vehicle owners valuing safety features as their most desired technology, expressing interest in driver safety assistance systems such as lane departure warnings and automatic emergency braking.
Younger consumers, particularly 33% of those aged 17-34, prioritiise in-car digital assistance such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Connectivity is also a key focus, with nearly 45% of vehicle owners aged 17-34 citing connectivity as their most desired technology feature, while 38% of all vehicle owners prioritize WiFi hotspots and portable device integration
While nearly half of the prospective buyers express interest in purchasing electric vehicles, significant barriers remain including limited charging infrastructure , high costs , and data security concerns.
About The Report
The UK In-Car Technology Market Report 2025 provides comprehensive insights into the In-car technology market in the UK, highlighting key trends, consumer preferences, and technological advancements shaping the automotive industry. It covers areas such as safety features, connectivity, navigation systems, electric vehicle adoption, and emerging technologies like AI and autonomous driving. The research surveyed vehicle owners aged 17 and above, analysing factors such as purchasing intentions, desired features, and concerns around cost, privacy, and data security. This Automotive Market Report is invaluable for automakers, technology providers, and industry stakeholders, offering strategic guidance to align product offerings with evolving consumer demands and market dynamics influencing in-car technology market share and in-car technology market size.
Key Topics Analysed in the Report
- Most desired technology by consumers, including safety, navigation, temperature control, power supply, connectivity, entertainment and in-car digital assistance
- Opportunities arising from consumer attitudes towards electric cars and smart charging integration, range optimisation tech in electric cars and subscription fees to access advanced car features
- Major barriers towards adopting new technology in vehicles, such as cost, potential for distraction, as well as lack of data security, and Mintel’s recommendations for overcoming these challenges
- Prospects driven by the interest in specific emerging in-vehicle solutions, from driver safety assistance systems, and automated diagnostics to digital screens for in-car functions, and a self-driving vehicle system
| Report Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Published Date | September 2025 |
| Data Range | 2021 – 2027 |
| Measurement Metrics | Revenue in £ |
| Country Focus | United Kingdom (UK) |
| Consumer Data | 2,000 internet users aged 16+, August 2025 |
| Number of Pages | 52 |
| Market Segmentation | Safety Features, Navigation Systems, Temperature Control, Power Supply, Connectivity, Entertainment, In-car Digital Assistance, Internal/External Communication, Self-driving Systems. |
| Leading Companies | Volvo, Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Ford, Kia, Toyota, General Motors, and Volkswagen |
Meet the Expert Behind the Analysis
This report was written by Utku Tansel. Utku is a member of the European Retail Team and responsible for research and writing reports/content. He has almost two decades of success in driving global thought leadership, project/content management experience delivering strategic business intelligence and actionable insight to major multinational companies.
Six in 10 vehicle owners will base their next car purchase on its in-car tech. Innovation in safety, navigation, comfort and connectivity will drive growth.
Utku Tansel
Senior Retail Analyst
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- Opportunities for in-car technology
- Safety is paramount
- Innovate in connectivity solutions
- Address cost concerns to win over consumers
- Market dynamics and outlook
- Inflation squeezes household budgets
- Graph 1: CPI inflation rate, 2021-25
- Consumer confidence outlook remains muted
- Graph 2: consumers’ financial confidence over the next year or so, 2025
- What consumers want and why
- Consumers rank safety and navigation technology as essential
- Graph 3: most desired technology feature in the next vehicle, 2024-25
- High cost of in-car tech remains the biggest barrier
- Graph 4: concerns about new technology in vehicles, 2024-25
- Drivers demand the latest tech in cars
- Graph 5: attitudes towards in car technology, 2025
- Driver safety systems and automated diagnostics leading the way
- Graph 6: interest in the enhanced vehicle features, 2025
- Innovation
- Mercedes CLA: the next-level innovation
- Volvo and Google drive the future with AI innovation
- In-car entertainment: Tesla’s touchscreen & Audi’s gaming partnership
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MARKET DYNAMICS: MACROECONOMIC FACTORS
- Inflation surge strains household budgets
- Graph 7: CPI* inflation rate, 2021-25
- Consumer confidence outlook: advanced tech is enticing, but it comes at a price
- Graph 8: consumers’ financial confidence over the next year or so, 2025
- UK to launch driverless taxis and buses by 2026: a leap into the autonomous future
- UK and US make a breakthrough automotive trade deal
- Even so, the UK is still working under tougher circumstances than before
- Revolutionising road safety: inside the 2026 Euro NCAP updates
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WHAT CONSUMERS WANT AND WHY
- Current vehicle ownership and buying intentions
- Increasing vehicle ownership
- Rising interest in buying or leasing vehicles
- Graph 9: intention to purchase or lease a vehicle in the next three years, 2024-25
- Desired tech in the next vehicle
- Must-have tech features: safety, navigation and temperature control
- Essential technology: safety and navigation
- Graph 10: most desired technology feature in the next vehicle, 2024-25
- Safety becomes more important as drivers age
- Graph 11: consumers who would prioritise safety tech features in their next vehicle, by age, 2025
- DriveSense Guardian
- In-car navigation systems lose importance
- The connected car: a new era of driving
- In-car digital assistance gains popularity
- Concerns about new tech in vehicles
- Key barriers: high cost and risk of technical failure
- High cost perception remains the biggest barrier to in-car tech adoption
- Graph 12: concerns about new technology in vehicles, 2024-25
- Address high cost concerns
- Balance is key: four in 10 find distracting features to be a turn off
- Attitudes towards in-car technology
- High interest in electric car and smart charging integration, and range optimisation
- Drivers demand the latest tech in cars
- Graph 13: attitudes towards in-car technology, 2025
- In-car tech is shaping consumer choices
- Electric car purchasing intention is strong
- Graph 14: likelihood of buying a car with select fuel types, 2024
- Home charging is the top choice for EV potential owners
- Graph 15: where potential owners would most likely charge an electric car, 2024
- Seven in 10 worry about privacy risks in AI-driven cars
- Data security is becoming a bigger concern
- Car subscriptions: the future of features or subscription fatigue?
- Interest in enhanced vehicle features
- Driver safety assistance systems and automated diagnostics most popular
- Consumers demand a variety of enhanced vehicle features
- Graph 16: interest in select enhanced vehicle features, 2025
- Driving smarter: why safety features are the future of cars
- Balancing convenience and safety in digital car interfaces
- Graph 17: interest in digital screens for in-car functions, by age, 2025
- Are self-driving cars taking the wheel?
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INNOVATION
- BMW launches the first-ever BMW Panoramic iDrive
- Automakers advance their operating systems
- In-car entertainment: Tesla’s touchscreen & Audi’s gaming partnership
- Mercedes expands Microsoft integration to create mobile workspaces
- Volvo and Mercedes drive the future with AI innovation
- Volvo’s free EX90 upgrade & Apple’s next-gen CarPlay: what to expect
- Volvo’s game-changing safety belt: a new era of personalised protection
- Magna unveils advanced night vision cameras for cars
- Innovation: beyond the UK
- BYD makes ADAS features accessible to all
- Xiaomi YU7: the game-changer redefining performance and style
- Continental’s emotional cockpit: the future of high-tech, personalised car interiors
- Sony Honda Mobility’s Afeela starts reservations for Afeela 1 in the US
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APPENDIX
- Report scope and definitions
- Market definition
- Consumer research methodology
- Abbreviations and terms
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