Ford and Google have signed a six-year partnership whereby millions of Ford and Lincoln vehicles will be powered by Android operating system from 2023.

The primary navigation system will be Google Maps, as well as the Ford’s in-car voice assistant being Google Assistant.

Various apps, including music, podcast and audio books have also been optimised for in-car use, which customers will be able to access via Google Play.

According to The Verge, Ford’s system will still be compatible with Apple CarPlay and the company will continue to offer Amazon’s Alexa as an option as well.

“We’re going to leverage the talent and assets of both companies to push the boundaries of Ford’s transformation, unlock personalised consumer experiences, and drive disruptive, data-driven opportunities,” said Ford’s VP of Strategy and Partnerships, David McClelland.

“This may include projects ranging from modernizing our plants through vision AI, developing new retail experiences when buying a vehicle, creating new ownerships based on connected vehicle data, and more.”

Ford’s Australian engineering team will be among those responsible for integrating the new operating system into its cars.

“Our 2500-strong team in Australia engineer world-class global vehicles, and connectivity is an ever-growing part of that development,” said Ford Engineering Director, Con Papadomanolakis.

“We expect this partnership to accelerate our Australian team’s abilities so that we can become world leaders in the auto-tech space, and to have that kind of skill in Australia is incredibly valuable not just for Ford but for Australia overall.”

Ford joins Volvo, General Motors and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance in striking a deal with Google to use its software to power its vehicle infotainment services.

Source: Car Expert | Ford to use Android operating system from 2023

4 February 2021