Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. have joined hands to come up with an in-vehicle software that will help them in competing with Apple Inc. and Google Inc.
Many automakers are not ready to give up the control to Silicon Valley companies that are gearing up to control the dashboards. So now Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. have joined hands to come up with an in-vehicle software that will help them in competing with Apple Inc. and Google Inc.
According to recent moves by Toyota, the company has announced that they have started to explore the usage of SmartDeviceLink. This is the open source version of the AppLink software by Ford that will be seen by Lexus and other Toyota cars.
SmartDeviceLink, or generally known as SDL, acts like an interface allowing smartphone integration into the dashboard of the vehicle similar to Android Auto by Google and CarPlay by Apple. Around two years back, Ford had announced that it will open source this platform with a vision that other automakers will join them and assist them in creating an alternative to what the tech behemoths are offering. The aim of this collaboration is to curb the presence of Sillicon Valley firms in the vehicle software domain.
According to a senior analyst at IHS, Mr. Mark Boyadjis stated, “Toyota adopting it is very significant because it validates the approach that Ford took, and it could help Ford and Toyota maintain control over the app ecosystem and the experience.” He further added, that the collaboration of big companies like Ford and Toyota Motors to work on an SDL like open source platform will be an attractive offer to app developers who will now be interest to work on the platform. Moreover, this will also help them in keeping Google and Apple out of the scenario.
This is not it, but other automakers are also coming with similar initiatives to attract customers. According to the chief executive officer of General Motors, Ms. Mary Barra understands the importance of smartphones amongst the masses. Collaboration between Google and Apple to come up with Android Auto and CarPlay that will be compatible with a wide array of vehicles is a perfect example of how firms like Chervolet have a firm hold in democratizing the technology that is relatively important for consumers.
The initiative that Ford Motors and Toyota has taken is extremely ambitious and will actually give a tough time to Apple and Google. However, the company will also be required to come up with something top notch for the dashboards so that consumer do not look for alternatives and stick to these automakers.
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