Overall electric-vehicle application satisfaction has improved, according to JD Power, but it found EV owners are less willing to tolerate delays and performance inconsistencies. 

In the JD Power 2026 U.S. OEM EV App Report, app performance was the defining factor of consumers' experience, speed and reliability gaps becoming more visible with increased use. 

The data provider said connectivity improved for the second year in a row but that a third of users are still experiencing issues. 

“With 51% of our respondents new to vehicle apps, OEMs have a clear opportunity to set the standard,” said Violet Allmandinger, senior principal of at JD Power OEM solutions. “However, inconsistent connectivity continues to hold the experience back.”

Speed had the greatest impact on overall app satisfaction, 73% of users expecting response times within five seconds or their satisfaction starts to decline. 

Users ranked “useful features” as the top factor that would drive them to use their apps more often. Advanced features that rose in interest include plug-and-charge at public chargers, geofencing and valet alerts, and remote charge-port control. More than 90% of app users desire core features, like vehicle status, over-the-air updates and diagnostics. 

Dealerships proved to be a strong driver of user engagement, 86% of active app users saying they received setup or guidance at vehicle pickup. JD Power said that makes dealership handoff the most consistent early touchpoint in the app journey and that dealership staff are a primary source of awareness. 

While 55% of EV owners said their apps had a major or moderate impact on their purchasing decisions, 64% said they wouldn't pay a fee for app access. 

Brandwise, the Tesla mobile app ranked the highest overall and among premium manufacturers. My BMW and Genesis Intelligent Assistant ranked second and third, respectively, in the premium category. 

MyHundai with Bluelink ranked highest among mass-market manufacturers, Kia Access and Mini ranking second and third, respectively.