Ford and Google team up

Ford vehicles will be powered by Google’s Android operating system

Kirsten Korosec

9 hours

"With Google Cloud, Ford will digitally transform from the front office to the vehicle to the manufacturing plant floor", Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said in a press conference today.

Google Cloud Platform will be Ford's "preferred cloud provider" and the partners will form an innovation team to jointly work on future projects, the companies said Monday in a statement.

Google Cloud has been named Ford's preferred software cloud provider, which will allow the auto maker to use existing data analytics and artificial-intelligence functions to enhance its product development and manufacturing operations, as well as provide vehicle owners with real-time notices for scheduled servicing or trade-in offers.

A Ford spokesman said the system "allows us to have a more intimate relationship with a customer, because their behaviour in a vehicle will make all our interactions personalised".

Google Assistant, drivers can keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, by getting things done with just their voice.

That means Google Maps will be the vehicle's native navigation system.

Google and Ford today announced a new partnership around bringing Android Automotive to Ford's Ford- and Lincoln-branded cars, starting in 2023.

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"We're going to leverage the talent and assets of both companies to push the boundaries of Ford's transformation, unlock personalized consumer experiences, and drive disruptive, data-driven opportunities", Ford said.

Ford CEO Jim Farley said: "As Ford continues the most profound transformation in our history with electrification, connectivity and self-driving, Google and Ford coming together establishes an innovation powerhouse truly able to deliver a superior experience for our customers and modernise our business".

"From the first moving assembly line to the latest driver-assist technology, Ford has set the pace of innovation for the automotive industry for almost 120 years", said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet.

"There are a number of different applications, including modernizing product development, improving manufacturing and supply chain management, using computer vision, AI for employee training inspection of equipment on the assembly line", Kurian explained. Polestar has already launched the Polestar 2 with Android Automotive, and we thoroughly enjoyed using it. Ford says we should expect to see it show up in its products come 2023, but it's not saying which ones yet.

"Android in the auto also enables Ford and third-party developers to build apps that provide a constantly improving and ever-more-personalised ownership experience", Ford said.

"This is the future", she said.

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