Early into 2017, the auto market presented its latest advancements, including concept vehicles and self-driving cars. But despite these innovations in the auto industry, the average car buyer still doesn’t know what the term “connected car” really means. New data from Klashwerks’ 2017 State of Driving Survey shows more than 93 percent of drivers who have heard of self-driving cars think the idea is far-fetched, perplexing or even scary. With this in mind, shouldn’t drivers be given a safer, less expensive and more attainable alternative?

Enter aftermarket technology.

Since consumers have so openly welcomed the adoption of smart products to connect their homes, drivers should consider aftermarket technology as an alternative to splurging on more expensive options when buying a car.

Realistically, 2017 won’t be the year we see major developments in the connected car market. But when we do, the first to come will likely occur in the aftermarket space so drivers can expand beyond the smart homes to bring connectivity to their cars.

Here are three reasons why aftermarket will be an area to watch in the future:

The market is ripe for IoT Cars

Now is a prime time for the car aftermarket to take off. Why? People are holding on to their cars for much longer as manufacturers continue to improve the quality — building cars to last longer and making them safer (and more enjoyable) to drive. Additionally, interest rates are now growing which makes any new car acquisition more expensive, not to mention the auto industry could be on the cusp of a protectionist trade war that will likely result in more expensive cars for Americans.

Car manufacturers beginning to realize this are looking at their existing customers for new business beyond just selling them new cars. The strategy seems to be to offer some kind of connected service for older car owners to enjoy some of the features they would only find in new cars. It’s clear that aftermarket tech is becoming increasingly important for car owners to make their cars more enjoyable and relevant, without having to incur the high cost of buying a new vehicle.

Why IoT – Consumers need a rich and more complete product experience

The majority of aftermarket solutions currently available to consumers are often expensive and only offer a single-feature benefit. What consumers really need are products that provide a rich and end-to-end experience with multiple, integrated features at a reasonable cost that allows them to enjoy their cars much longer than they would otherwise. This is where the opportunity for aftermarket tech can show the most promise, compared to other options on the market.

IoT Cars -You’ll always be connected

As aftermarket tech continues to emerge in the connected car space, makers of these products are  quickly learning the struggle most smart home makers faced — It’s not easy to market the idea of connecting your car, let alone making all these products communicate with one another.

One of the main future features of aftermarket tech is the cellular connection. With it, these products will have the ability to draw from thousands of online sources in real time, allowing them to receive the right information at the right time and on demand. If there’s one thing the 2017 State of Driving Survey taught us, it’s that 32% of drivers are multitasking on the roads anyways. So why not eliminate the need to take your hands of the wheel by making your car do all the work for you? After all, that’s what the IoT is all about — ensuring products are always connected via a cellular network.

As the connected car space advances to parallel the smart home, consumers should increasingly consider the benefits of adopting aftermarket technologies first before buying a very expensive new car that will sit most of the time in their driveway. New developments in the aftermarket space will help make vehicle upgrades affordable and accessible while bringing the connected car to your driveway (or garage) sooner than you expect.