Parkway Car Stereo

With 2014 around the corner, it’s time to look at what to expect next year in products, trends, and sales.   Here’s some of our own predictions and some from industry experts and industry members.

1. Expect more HDMI and MHL in car radios  for mirroring a smartphone onto the car radio screen (including video and apps)
2. Expect suppliers to introduce more driver safety products for the aftermarket including advancements in night vision and possibly even blindspot detection.
3. We’ll see more car audio brands offering car-specific speaker/amplifier systems.
4. The car audio aftermarket will decline by 11.4 percent in North America  in 2014 over 2013, according to Strategy Analytics.  Aftermarket revenues for 2014 will drop to $2.360 billion, from $2.663 billion in 2013.
5. There will be a push to find the killer app in the Connected Car.  In other words, suppliers will look for a way to market and better monetize the Connected Car in the aftermarket.
6. Audiovox’s Tom Malone believes that WiFi hotspot in the car will start to gain prominence.
7. Expect to see more tablet integration in the aftermarket.
8. Wireless charging of devices in the car will gain a foothold in the aftermarket.
9. For car sales in general: Kelley BlueBook projects 16.3 million For 2014 up from 15.6 million in 2013
10. For the U.S. economy in general:  gross domestic product (GDP) is forecast to climb 2.9 percent, up from 1.9 percent growth in 2013. See economic predictions here.