Photo: Ford
Ford and Google have announced a big partnership that would allow the two companies to work together on a series of next-generation experiences. One of the most notable changes for customers of the American carmaker is the adoption of Android Automotive.
Beginning in 2023, all Ford and Lincoln models will be equipped with Google’s platform as pre-loaded software, thus providing customers with Google Maps navigation, Google Assistant integration, and other capabilities as a factory-installed application.
Android Automotive, a stand-alone platform currently being used by Polestar and Volvo, and set to be adopted by General Motors, Peugeot, Citroën, and Opel, offers an Android experience tailored to each car, all without the need for any additional hardware. Android Auto, which is Google’s other offering in this market, requires an Android phone to power the experience behind the wheel.
Ford is also dropping hints that its teams of engineers working on software would be reorganized after its cars begin shipping with Android Automotive.
“In addition to the Google Play ecosystem, Ford and third-party developers will create even more apps to enable an improving and more personalized ownership experience. By leveraging Android Automotive, Ford also will be able to divert significant software engineering talent from operating system development to the creation of unique Ford and Lincoln customer innovations,” the company announced.
In addition to the adoption of Android Automotive in all Ford and Lincoln cars, the partnership between the two also allows the American automaker to use Google Cloud as its exclusive cloud provider.
Google Cloud will allow Ford to “continue our digital transformation;” more importantly, it’ll be the service powering the connected car experience the American brand is betting so big on in the long term.
It’ll be used for personalized services but also for the implementation of next-generation technology that should help with product development, manufacturing, and supply chain management. In addition, it will also power various AI systems that will eventually improve daily operations.
Android Automotive, a stand-alone platform currently being used by Polestar and Volvo, and set to be adopted by General Motors, Peugeot, Citroën, and Opel, offers an Android experience tailored to each car, all without the need for any additional hardware. Android Auto, which is Google’s other offering in this market, requires an Android phone to power the experience behind the wheel.
Ford is also dropping hints that its teams of engineers working on software would be reorganized after its cars begin shipping with Android Automotive.
“In addition to the Google Play ecosystem, Ford and third-party developers will create even more apps to enable an improving and more personalized ownership experience. By leveraging Android Automotive, Ford also will be able to divert significant software engineering talent from operating system development to the creation of unique Ford and Lincoln customer innovations,” the company announced.
In addition to the adoption of Android Automotive in all Ford and Lincoln cars, the partnership between the two also allows the American automaker to use Google Cloud as its exclusive cloud provider.
Google Cloud will allow Ford to “continue our digital transformation;” more importantly, it’ll be the service powering the connected car experience the American brand is betting so big on in the long term.
It’ll be used for personalized services but also for the implementation of next-generation technology that should help with product development, manufacturing, and supply chain management. In addition, it will also power various AI systems that will eventually improve daily operations.
Google News