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Car companies are pouring resources into self-driving cars, and even some tech companies, most notably Google, are developing their own autonomous vehicles.

But Microsoft is taking a different approach.

The tech giant is forging partnerships with automakers to implement its technology into fully autonomous cars, Microsoft's head of business development, Peggy Johnson, told the Wall Street Journal. The company has no plans to develop its own self-driving car, but it will work with auto manufacturers to develop ways to integrate Microsoft software into these vehicles.

Some of the major Microsoft products that could appear in the cars include the Azure cloud platform, Office 365, and the Windows operating system. Each of these products could collect, store, and analyze data from self-driving cars and offer passengers infotainment and productivity software that they can use while in the vehicle.

If and when cars become fully autonomous, passengers would be able to accomplish other tasks in the car besides driving, according to Johnson. The average American spends 19 hours per month commuting to and from work, according to Cowen & Co. data. This is a significant chunk of time that workers could potentially use for other tasks, and Microsoft wants to make sure commuters are using its products to perform those tasks.

The connected car is already on the market and generating significant revenue for car makers and tech companies. Over the past year, there has been a significant uptick in the number of connected cars on the road. And as internet integration becomes more commonplace, the automobile as we know it will transform.

Over the next five to 10 years, this internet integration is expected to change the car ownership model, create a new platform for consumers to access content, lead to fully autonomous vehicles, and revolutionize the auto industry.

The market position of the car today is similar to where the smartphone was in 2010 — it's just taken off and is ready to explode.

John Greenough, senior research analyst for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled a detailed report on the connected car that examines the transformation of the automobile. It looks at all areas of the changing automotive market, including the market size for connected cars, automakers' benefits and connection strategies, market leaders, consumer demand, and more.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

Over 380 million connected cars will be on the road by 2021. The market has seen a significant increase in automakers plans to connect the majority of the vehicles they sell and as a result, we've increased our 2015 forecast.

Automakers are connecting the vehicles they sell because the connection offers clear business opportunities.

Consumers are adopting the connected car faster than expected. We identify the 3 factors that causing the increase in demand.

Tech companies will play a major role in the future of the automotive market. The big question is whether tech companies will eventually manufacture cars?

Fully autonomous cars are only a few years away. Technological, regulatory, and consumer adoption hurdles still remain, but there have been many strides towards a car that can drive itself from point A to point B with little to no human interaction.

In full, the report:

Forecasts connected car shipments

Identifies automakers strategy for connection

Analyzes consumer interest in the connected car

Examines Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Discusses the potential changing car ownership model

Describes the evolution of the self-driving car

Identifies top connected car and fully autonomous car barriers

To get your copy of this invaluable guide, choose one of these options:

START A MEMBERSHIP Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> Purchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORT

The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the connected car.