J.D. Power reports 38% of owners used apps developed by the automaker on at least half of their drives last year. The apps, which nearly every brand offers, allow drivers to do everything from scheduling service appointments to starting a vehicle remotely, planning trips and paying for charging electric vehicles. But they frequently fail, due to problems with connectivity, incorrect information and other issues. Many users abandon the apps in frustration, and it’s hard to find independent evaluations of how they work, says Mark Phelan of Detroit-Free Press. The app is vastly more difficult to activate than the quick and easy smartphone apps smartphone users have come to expect, he says. A company rep came to my house to evaluate its app. . . .
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