Carmakers see big bucks from in-car software subscriptions

Carmakers typically make their money when they sell a car. Now, they're eyeing monthly service subscriptions as a way to turbocharge growth.

Why it matters: The auto industry is aiming to be more like the tech and telecom industries, hooking customers with services and downloadable features that improve over time and — most important — generate recurring revenues.

What's happening: Stellantis is the latest automaker to set huge growth targets from software-related services.

• The European parent of brands like Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge said it plans to take in 20 billion euros ($22.5 billion) in annual revenue from entertainment, navigation and other subscription services by 2030.
• General Motors plans to double its annual revenues to about $280 billion over the next decade, in large part from software and new services, as it shifts to electric, connected and autonomous vehicles.
• Ford recently hired a former Apple and Tesla executive, Doug Field, to lead its software strategy and is looking for similar growth from connected vehicle services.

Driving the news: Stellantis, formed earlier this year by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot SA, said it would spend 30 billion euros ($34 billion) through 2025 in a push toward software-based electric vehicles.

• It plans to have 4,500 software engineers on staff by 2024, including 1,000 current employees who will be retrained.

• Stellantis has 12 million connected cars on the road worldwide today, generating about $450 million in software-related revenue.
• By 2030, it expects to have 34 million connected vehicles.

Details: Stellantis' current subscription revenue comes from services such as satellite radio and connected navigation services.

• But the company sees other big revenue opportunities from such options as usage-based insurance or fleet-management services for businesses.
• It can also charge for software upgrades that add extra horsepower, for example, or on-demand features to customize the in-car experience.

The bottom line: Some analysts project in-car software could be a $225 billion market by 2030.