In-Car Voice Recognition Tech Should ‘Start Again’: JD Power

In-car voice recognition technology is so terrible that carmakers should be starting again from a ‘clean sheet’, according to J.D. Power.

The consumer group’s Executive Director of driver interactions, Kristin Kolodge, said while carmakers seemed committed to adding more features to existing units, customers would prefer they concentrated on the basics.

J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study in the US found voice recognition was the most commonly reported fault, with 23 percent of all car problems from respondents relating to audio, communication, navigation systems and infotainment.

“Any way you slice it, that’s a failing grade,” Ms Kolodge said, speaking with industry paper Automotive News at the 2014 Management Briefing Seminars.

“Only one of the motorists we talked to wanted more features - the majority just wanted their systems to work.”