New York (CNN Business) Ford and Google announced a six-year strategic partnership in which they will collaborate on new technologies and install Google's Android operating system as the primary system in its infotainment screens in millions of Ford and Lincoln cars and trucks starting in 2023.
Android's operating system will allow drivers to access Google Maps for in-vehicle navigation and Google's Voice Assistant for handling voice commands in the car without the use of an Android phone.
Starting in 2023, Ford cars will also begin offering an in-car version of the Google Play Store to download apps for things like music, audiobooks and podcasts.
In addition, Google will also be Ford's preferred provider for cloud data storage. Ford will also use Google's artificial intelligence and data analytics capabilities to better interpret the data it collects from vehicles and its own operations to improve upon things like customer service, manufacturing and marketing.
General Motors recently announced a similar arrangement with Microsoft in which Microsoft will be the cloud storage provider for GM and Cruise, the autonomous car company majority owned by GM.
Ford and Google did not specifically say if Google's cloud computing systems will be used for autonomous vehicles, as in the GM and Microsoft deal.
As part of their partnership, Ford and Google will create a group called Team Upshift that will collaborate on new ways the companies can work together. Executives from Ford and Google imagine, for example, that the team will work on things like improving the online car shopping experience using customer data.
The companies did not reveal the financial terms of the arrangement.
From CNN (edited)
