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Tag: connected car
Ford Launches Open Developer Program
Ford is the leader in the connected car front with a robust infotainment system called the Ford Sync program. Their mobile integration is the cornerstone of the platform with its very own app ecosystem engineered for the car. Leveraging voice controls, Ford AppLink currently has thirteen apps available in their portfolio but an announcement at CES signals huge growth in that space.
In an announcement this afternoon, Ford will be launching their Open Developer Program that will provide third party developers all the APIs and tools they need to begin creating apps for Ford’s platform in a similar manner to Android or iOS for mobile. Specifically, Ford is looking for news, navigation, productivity tools, and more while video and text heavy apps along with gaming will be prohibited (you do still need to drive). USA Today, AHA Radio and Rhapsody are some major players jumping onboard but expect some more niche apps to follow suit.
The connected car is one of the most promising frontiers for advertisers as robust media experiences travel with us in the car. There is clearly a demand for consumers as well with 65% of Ford customers saying AppLink was an important factor in their purchase. AppLink has rolled out to 1 million US cars in 2012 with another million planned for 2013 and an estimated 14 million in 2015.
The Trigger: Lexus Autonomous Driving
Lexus At CES: The Autonomous Driver
Lexus demonstrated some autonomous vehicle features including laser tracking, gyroscopes, and forward and side-facing radars all geared toward scanning road environments and reacting to any danger. Lexus says most of this technology is in R&D and will not be available for quite sometime. Mark Templin, VP General Manager also explained that they’re aiming for the car not to be driverless but rather act as an attentive copilot whose skills can assist driving. Sounds pretty great to us. Stayed tuned for updates this afternoon on car infotainment systems.
Realizing The Connected Car
The auto category is expect to shine at CES. Ford has set the pace for the new connected car and we should see competitors jostling to keep up. There’s been talk of 4G-equipped cars, tons of in-vehicle apps, and even some APIs that lay the groundwork for a truly open source vehicle. From a marketing perspective, there are very tangible possibilities for how brands can interact with drivers as cars become another hub for media. Right now it’s still a realm dominated by radio ads and road-side billboards, but that should all change in the near future.
Chevy Integrates Siri In 2013
Voice controls and connected cars go together like peas and carrots, so it’s not surprising Chevrolet is integrating Siri into new models starting with the 2013 Chevy Spark. The speech system will operate the MyLink infotainment systems for calls, navigation, and media after pairing your iOS device via bluetooth. While other car companies have created more robust media platforms, the introduction of Siri seems like an easy win for Chevy.
