Ford and Google announced a strategic partnership this morning, one that will see Android Automotive as the infotainment OS of choice starting in 2023 vehicles. Additionally, Google Cloud will be the automaker’s preferred cloud provider, promising to, “transform both Ford and the auto industry.”
Details seem a little vague in terms of what to expect as of right now, but the main things we can look forward to is deep infotainment integration with Google services such as Google Assistant and Google Maps. Just remember, Android Automotive differs from the Android Auto experience that requires a smartphone for functionality.
For all of you iPhone owners, don’t worry, CarPlay support isn’t going anywhere.
The partnership between Google and Ford also includes the creation of a collaborative workgroup called Team Upshift. This group’s work will apparently, “push the boundaries of modernization, unlocking personalized customer experiences, and driving disruptive data driven opportunities. For example, we’ll create new retail experiences for customers when buying a vehicle.”
As an Android lover, this is obviously great news, though, if I’m being totally honest, the Android Auto experience can be sometimes pretty janky. What’s being discussed here is a different platform, so hopefully it’s legit.
// Ford
Honda continues to be the cuck of the infotainment auto industry, my 2018 is on Android 4.2.2. Honda does not care about its customers. They present you their vision, you pay their inflated price, and you’ll be happy with that purchase.
Should have bought a Mazda. ????????
If only they’d bring back the Speed 3… they’re back to being a boring car company again.
Love my 2019 Civic, and at least it runs Android Auto well enough I barely use the Honda infotainment itself.
Does it support AA wireless? And if so, which device do you use?
Not sure if serious.
No. It barely worked by USB.
No, only wired. I have a P4XL
Not sure I’d go that far, but I traded in my loaded 2018 Accord after about a year. It was an overengineered behemoth with tons of annoyances for the driver. I’m not sure how it gets such good reviews, which went a long way toward convincing me to buy.
Little things, like the climate control that worked against you and required constant fiddling, backup camera fails, infotainment that crashed or dropped connection, useless voice control… One time, my adaptive cruise control froze as a car veered in front of me on the interstate. Every warning light came on and everything automated in the car died at once. Had to disconnect the battery to get it to reboot.
I bought a 2019 Jetta for about half the price and everything just works. It’s a breath of fresh air after suffering through the Honda.
Sucks for blackberry qnx since that is what Ford was using.
That’s cool and all, but, there’s no way I’m buying a Ford. ????
F150, mustang, explorer st, mach1, bronco…seriously? No interest in any of those?
Maybe the new Bronco. But that’s the only thing they have going for them. Reinventing old lineups. Almost half the cost of the car comes from unions.
Labor costs are 6-7%, a little less in non-union car plants. That and most all new manufacturing plants are opening in non-union “right to work” states or in Mexico where labor is also considerably cheaper.
Thank God for that. American automakers spend the extra $2,000+ per car. Other car manufacturers like BMW, Honda or Toyota don’t have to pay this expense. If Detroit could make a better car than the M Series then it may be worth the extra $2/3k. But, that’s a big ‘if’.
Actually, I work at a non-union Honda plant and I’ve learned that most Honda plants are in fact unionized across the world, even in Japan. Can’t say about the others though but I suspect that it’s the same.
New plants are also putting in a lot more robots (automation), to help out with faster and more productive car manufacturing.
In the 22 years I’ve been at the Honda plants we’ve gone from 4,700 associates to 4,200 with new robots popping up everywhere. This drop in manpower happened despite adding a new engine plant to the operation.
The opposite is true in Mexico though. From what I’ve heard from associates who trained personnel down there the amount of automation/robots is limited with as much as possible being done by hand because of how cheap labour is.
Agreed. The new Broncos are great looking and in the case of the Sport models, very practical. The Mustang continues to dominate as does the F-150.
This, coming from a guy who prefers and drives a GM Truck and works at a Honda plant.
I don’t like SUVs at all, and the Mustang is, well, not really all that interesting.
I’ll stick with my S6.
Lol while nice, you just listed a car that’s more expensive than all the models I just mentioned. Of course it’s nicer.
FWIW there isn’t a namedrop of Android Automotive in the press release. But yeah it’s a good bet that’s what it’s actually speaking about.
Sweet, hopefully they make a way to control the FM radio from the AA app
I think android automotive replaces all the vehicle controls: radio, AC, navigation, etc.
Assuming this is going to be very similar to the Polestar experience with Android Automotive?