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The J.D. Power 2025 U.S. OEM EV App Report,SM released today, observes that EV app usage continues to climb, though satisfaction is still held back by connectivity issues, remote command speed and what Power terms as inconsistent feature performance. These App Gaps contrast sharply with a claimed rising in expectations, as more EV owners are expecting quick and integrated app functionality each time they drive.
“EV owners are telling J.D. Power exactly what they need: reliable performance and connectivity to interact with their vehicles,” said Violet Allmandinger, mobile apps lead at J.D. Power. “Top-performing apps deliver fast, consistent remote controls and have desired features. However, most other apps are still closing that gap.”
Main findings from the 2025 report, according to J.D. Power
- EV app usage rising: Nearly one-third (32%) of non-Tesla users now use their app on every drive (up from 17% in 2024), while Tesla users are at 79%, up from 69% a year ago. This reflects the growing reliance on apps for routine EV functions such as charge monitoring, pre-conditioning and route planning. However, satisfaction still lags due to slow connections and inconsistent performance. (Read AutoInformed.com on: ACEA – April EU Car Sales off 1%. Tesla -53%)
- Distinct advantage in speed: Nearly half (46%) of EV app users say 3-5 seconds is the longest acceptable delay for remote commands, while 40% of Tesla users expect responses in just 1-2 seconds. App speed remains the top driver of satisfaction. Tesla users place higher value on app speed (8.3 on a 10-point scale) than non-Tesla users (7.4) and are more satisfied (7.9) than non-Tesla users (5.5). The small gap between expectation and satisfaction suggests that Tesla has a competitive edge in delivering on customers’ needs.
- Connectivity issues remain top frustration: Although connectivity has improved slightly, 37% of non-Tesla EV app users still have issues with losing connection or delayed updates, down from 40% in 2024. Tesla, on the other hand, has made significant improvement by reducing connectivity complaints to 19% from 35% year over year. This reinforces the importance of frequent app updates to address issues and transparent communication to customers.
- Strong interest in EV features, yet low engagement among app users: While more than 70% of EV app users say they want features like charge scheduling, trip planning with charging stops and in-app payment for public charging, many non-Tesla users do not use these features. In fact, 43% of non-Tesla users have never tried to schedule a charge; 44% have never used the app to plan trips; and 54% have never attempted to pay for charging through the manufacturer’s app. This gap suggests a lack of feature availability or limited awareness, both of which represent missed opportunities to improve satisfaction.
- Feature desirability continues to evolve: Several advanced features have seen year-over-year increases in desirability. Interest in adjusting driver profiles—such as enabling valet or guest mode—has risen 6.3 percentage points, the largest gain. Other features with rising interest include remote window control (+3.7 percentage points); smartphone key access (+2.2 percentage points); and viewing vehicle cameras or security alerts (+1.7 percentage points). Core features like vehicle status, over-the-air updates and diagnostics/vehicle health checks continue to be desired by more than 90% of EV app users.
Report Rankings
- Tesla (864) ranks highest overall and among premium manufacturer EV vehicle mobile apps. Mercedes-Benz (839) ranks second and My BMW (833) ranks third.
- MyHyundai with Bluelink ranks highest among mass market manufacturer EV mobile apps with a score of 820 (on a 1,000-point scale). Kia Access (808) ranks second and MINI (797) ranks third.
The U.S. OEM EV App Report, now in its fifth year, gauges EV owners’ experience with their brand’s mobile app. Perceptions are derived from surveying EV owners and an assessment of the most relevant EV mobile apps. Results are based on a standardized assessment approach relying on more than 350 best practices for vehicle apps that include more than 70 EV-specific attributes, according to Power.
“The report includes apps from the top 28 award-eligible brands that sell EVs in the United States; 10 profiled EV brands in China; and eight profiled EV brands in Europe. Brands from China and Europe are included in this report given their expanding presence in the EV marketplace. Additionally, 1966 EV owners in the United States were surveyed in March-April 2025 to gather insights on app usage; feature desirability; and app overall execution for the 2025 report,” said Power.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
EV App Gap Frustrates Growing Number of Users
Click for more.
The J.D. Power 2025 U.S. OEM EV App Report,SM released today, observes that EV app usage continues to climb, though satisfaction is still held back by connectivity issues, remote command speed and what Power terms as inconsistent feature performance. These App Gaps contrast sharply with a claimed rising in expectations, as more EV owners are expecting quick and integrated app functionality each time they drive.
“EV owners are telling J.D. Power exactly what they need: reliable performance and connectivity to interact with their vehicles,” said Violet Allmandinger, mobile apps lead at J.D. Power. “Top-performing apps deliver fast, consistent remote controls and have desired features. However, most other apps are still closing that gap.”
Main findings from the 2025 report, according to J.D. Power
Report Rankings
The U.S. OEM EV App Report, now in its fifth year, gauges EV owners’ experience with their brand’s mobile app. Perceptions are derived from surveying EV owners and an assessment of the most relevant EV mobile apps. Results are based on a standardized assessment approach relying on more than 350 best practices for vehicle apps that include more than 70 EV-specific attributes, according to Power.
“The report includes apps from the top 28 award-eligible brands that sell EVs in the United States; 10 profiled EV brands in China; and eight profiled EV brands in Europe. Brands from China and Europe are included in this report given their expanding presence in the EV marketplace. Additionally, 1966 EV owners in the United States were surveyed in March-April 2025 to gather insights on app usage; feature desirability; and app overall execution for the 2025 report,” said Power.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.