This morning’s guest post comes from Jacobs Media’s Ralph Cipolla, who braved the crowds and the cold to provide some perspective from the North American International Auto Show. Or as we like to call it, The Detroit Auto Show. This event was more than just cars, which JacoBLOG readers read up on during Paul Jacobs’ guest posts from the Consumer Electronics Show.
After an extremely difficult year for the auto industry – and for the city of Detroit – this year’s Auto Show had a much-improved vibe and energy. Ask Ford, GM, and Chrysler what their message is, and you will get an enthusiastic “We’re Back!” and a somewhat sheepish “OK, we get it now.”
Step into the 1 million square-foot hall, and you get a dual message that is loud, clear, and new for 2010. New car emphasis is on: (1) Eco-friendly and green innovation, and (2) Leading edge technology on wheels with a “Wow factor” that rivals a trip to the nearest Apple Store.
It’s this second factor that should resonate for radio people, as our monopoly on the dashboard continues to weaken as the auto manufacturers push for more technology in their vehicles.
In last year’s Jacobs Media Tech Poll, nearly half of those planning to buy a new vehicle indicated that the ability to connect an iPod-like device in their car was highly desirable.
Well, someone in Detroit was listening. I took an informal poll on the floor and discovered that 100% of all new Fords, Acuras, Hyundais, Toyotas, and GM vehicles will provide a mini-jack/aux access for an mp3 player. As we’ve discussed in this space before, that’s a game changer for the in-car listening experience.
But if you followed Paul’s exploits at CES, it runs much deeper than that. Here are just a few of the snapshots from my visits to the Ford and Acura exhibits.
First, the myFord SYNC system unveiled at the recent consumer Electronics Show, available later this year.
Here’s the console of the new 2010 Acura ZDX 4-door sport coupe.
Every auto rep I spoke to at the show told me there’s a high priority on serving the digitally-focused consumer. And as the woman from Acura told me, "Wow, would you just look at this car? We’re not sitting in a concept car. You can buy this car right now – a dream for anyone into tech and gadgets."
Finally, some thoughts and conclusions from the 2010 Detroit Auto Show: If you needed yet more evidence that the car is no longer radio's remaining refuge, this was it.
-
Manufacturers have collected their own data, and the results look very much like what we have tracked in our radio studies – the decision to buy a new vehicle has a lot to do with the entertainment offerings in the dashboard. Of course side airbags and the braking system matters, but digital media plays a key role in the process.
-
Auto manufacturers – domestic and foreign – are taking the feedback seriously, and most have gone “all in.” In past years, you couldn’t even access the interiors of vehicles at these events. Now it’s like a new car showroom – they can’t wait to get you to sit behind the wheel – and for good reason.
-
Radio needs to get in the game, at all costs. Think about all the ways your listener can receive information and communicate with the world while on four wheels. Stations need to develop their own mobile apps to make sure they have a place in the in-car digital hierarchy. A database texting program will have a place, too, as more and more vehicles come with the capability to respond to voice commands, reading incoming text messages and composing outgoing messages, all hands-free.
And of course, there’s the big issue revolving around how well local content and personalities will fare in an environment where consumers can easily access an iPod, a fully loaded hard drive from the vehicle’s USP port, a DVD player, and any Internet station or source they can punch up. We’re not going to voice-track our way out of this one.
See you on the road. Eyes front, OK?
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
- Radio, It Oughta Be A Crime - November 25, 2024
- Baby, Please Don’t Go - November 22, 2024
- Why Radio Needs To Stop Chasing The Puck - November 21, 2024
Leave a Reply