Audi, Honda, Hyundai, and GM to bring Android to cars

General Motors, Audi, Honda and Hyundai have joined forces with Google and Nvidia to form the Open Automotive Alliance (OAA), their overarching goal being the integration of Google's Android software into automotive infotainment systems. The OAA will use Android's open development model to bring a greater variety of functions to car infotainment systems, which have noticeably lagged behind smartphones when it comes to capability due to long development periods, fast changing technology, and a glut variety of incompatible systems.

The alliance's first order of business will be to develop new Android platform features to enable the car to become a connected Android device. The adoption of a common platform will not only ease development efforts on the part of car companies and third party app developers, but will also offer greater ease of use to those for whom Android is already a part of their daily lives.

"Millions of people are already familiar with Android and use it everyday," said Sundar Pichai, SVP of Android, Chrome & Apps at Google. "The expansion of the Android platform into automotive will allow our industry partners to more easily integrate mobile technology into cars and offer drivers a familiar, seamless experience so they can focus on the road."

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Developers will also benefit from a common platform, focusing on app the apps themselves rather than trying to work within a patchwork of different platforms used by different automakers. The OAA effort can be viewed as Google's answer to Apple's creation of a partnership with some of the same companies with the goal of integration their iOS operating system into cars, with Microsoft's Sync partnering up with Ford. Car companies, for their part, don't seem to be picking just one platform partner, as OAA partners General Motors, Hyundai, and Honda have joined Apple's 12-member partnership as well.

“Partnering with Google and the OAA on an ecosystem that spans across vehicles and handheld mobile devices furthers our mission to bring vehicles into our owners digital lives and their digital lives into their vehicles,” said Mary Chan, President of General Motors' Global Connected Consumer unit. "We see huge opportunities for the Android platform paired with OnStar 4G LTE connectivity in future Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles."

The bad old days of unconnected and incompatible car infotainment systems seem to be drawing to a close, as automakers are coordinating their development efforts with platform engineers and app developers, in an effort to make cars truly connected.

By Jay Ramey