A new study by Telefónica claims that there is sufficient evidence to show that consumers are ready for connected cars, with more than 70 per cent of drivers surveyed saying that they are interested in using, or are already using, connected car services. According to Telefónica's Connected Car Industry Report 2014, around half of consumers now consider connected features, such as inbuilt connectivity and the ability to plug in a smartphone, a key part of their next car purchase. Features such as increased safety, early warning systems and smarter navigation are cited as the most popular, with almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of drivers listing safety and diagnostics features as the most important. On average 35 per cent of drivers expect not to own their own car by 2034, and instead predict they will be using alternative options such as car sharing services. Report