Throughout the previous decade, J.D. Energy has supported automakers in understanding consumer experiences throughout greater than 100 new applied sciences, demonstrating a dedication to advancing automotive innovation via shopper insights. The J.D. Energy 2025 U.S. Tech Expertise Index (TXI) Research,SM launched right this moment, enhances these insights with the addition of a sensible automobile class that highlights the rising use of synthetic intelligence (AI) in autos.
The examine, now in its tenth yr, features a new class that features seven AI-based applied sciences designed to reinforce the driving force expertise by anticipating their wants. A number of good applied sciences, together with good ignition, local weather management and driver preferences, rank among the many high 10 within the examine for each low issues skilled and excessive buyer satisfaction.
“Sensible applied sciences seem to not solely anticipate the driving force’s wants but additionally scale back the cognitive workload and among the difficulties that drivers face with digital techniques,” mentioned Kathleen Rizk, senior director of consumer expertise benchmarking and know-how at J.D. Energy. “In the end, what issues most to automobile house owners—and subsequently to automakers and suppliers—is how helpful the know-how is and whether or not it enhances their driving expertise. Whereas good applied sciences aren’t with out points, they signify a significant step ahead. Continued growth will probably be important to deal with present challenges and maximize their effectiveness.”
Following are some key findings of the 2025 examine:
Automotive wash mode a shiny promise with muddied execution: Automotive wash mode, a brand new function tracked within the TXI Research this yr, is meant to routinely put together the automobile to undergo a automotive wash, initiating actions reminiscent of closing all home windows and disabling the windshield wipers, amongst others. It’s a function that sounds good in idea, however is commonly buried inside the infotainment system, making it tough to search out, which causes delays and frustration, particularly when in line at a automotive wash. This ends in greater than one-third (38%) of homeowners who say they want higher directions to make use of it. One other 15% say the function is simply too gradual to carry out the required duties to arrange the automobile for a wash. In the end, regardless of its potential advantages, the difficult accessibility of the automotive wash mode and lack of consumer steering are stopping it from turning into a
extensively adopted function.
In-vehicle funds making a comeback: Earlier executions of in-vehicle buying and fee techniques inside the infotainment system have been hindered by restricted app choices, complicated interfaces and prolonged buying processes, all of which have contributed to low adoption. Nonetheless, in-vehicle fee capabilities are gaining curiosity, with 62% of homeowners expressing a need for this function. At current, the commonest makes use of are paying for charging, gasoline, parking and tolls. “The subsequent era of in-vehicle buying and fee techniques has the potential to succeed if automakers concentrate on comfort purchases that instantly improve the automobile expertise, reminiscent of parking and gasoline, and design entry inside the infotainment system to be easy and user-friendly,” Rizk mentioned.
Recognition applied sciences now subsequent problem drivers face: Homeowners’ perceptions of auto high quality have shifted from damaged parts to points with usability, primarily because of complicated infotainment and superior driver help techniques (ADAS). At the moment, issues more and more concentrate on know-how requiring connectivity. Sooner or later, based on findings within the TXI Research, the subsequent evolution of auto high quality issues house owners will probably face will probably be associated to inconsistent efficiency of recognition and authentication applied sciences. These applied sciences embrace biometric authentication (29.2 PP100); touchless or hidden controls (19.6 PP100); and direct driver monitoring (19.4 PP100), that are the applied sciences with the best variety of issues reported within the TXI Research. As automakers navigate challenges with recognition applied sciences, the main target should stay on guaranteeing that developments improve—slightly than hinder—the general driving expertise.
Blind spot digital camera is a buyer must-have know-how: A big majority (93%) of shoppers say they use the blind spot digital camera more often than not, and 74% say they need the function in a future automobile. Notably, autos that embrace this function additionally spend much less time on supplier heaps in contrast with those who lack it.
Highest-Rating Manufacturers
Genesis ranks highest general and highest amongst premium manufacturers for innovation for a fifth consecutive yr, with a rating of 538 (on a 1,000-point scale). Cadillac (526) ranks second and Lincoln (523) ranks third.
Hyundai ranks highest amongst mass market manufacturers for innovation for a sixth consecutive yr, with a rating of 493. Kia (474) ranks second and Mitsubishi (471) ranks third.
Superior Expertise Award Recipients
The U.S. Tech Expertise Index (TXI) Research analyzes 40 automotive applied sciences, that are divided into 5 classes: consolation and comfort; related automobile; driver help; electrical automobile; and good automobile. The good automobile class is just not award eligible this yr.
Land Rover Defender is the premium mannequin receiving the consolation and comfort award for its superior air purification system. Toyota Land Cruiser and Toyota Sequoia, every in a tie, are the mass market fashions receiving the consolation and comfort award for digital camera rear-view mirror know-how.
Genesis GV80 is the premium mannequin receiving the related automobile award for phone-based digital key. Hyundai Santa Fe is the mass market mannequin receiving the related automobile award, additionally for phone-based digital key.
GMC Hummer EV SUV receives the award for driver help within the premium phase for lively lane change help. Hyundai Santa Fe receives the award for driver help within the mass market phase for its blind spot digital camera.
Kia EV9 receives the award for electrical automobile within the mass market phase for one pedal driving. The premium phase within the electrical automobile class is just not award eligible this yr.
The U.S. Tech Expertise Index (TXI) Research enhances the annual J.D. Energy U.S. Preliminary High quality StudySM (IQS) and the J.D. Energy U.S. Automotive Efficiency, Execution and Structure (APEAL) StudySM by measuring how successfully every automotive model brings new applied sciences to market. The TXI Research combines the extent of adoption of latest applied sciences in every model for excellence in execution. The execution measurement examines how a lot house owners like the brand new applied sciences and what number of issues they expertise whereas utilizing them.
The 2025 U.S. Tech Expertise Index (TXI) Research relies on responses from 76,230 house owners of latest 2025 model-year autos who have been surveyed after 90 days of possession. The examine was fielded from June 2024 via Might 2025 based mostly on autos registered from March 2024 via February 2025.
