For all the talk about Google and Apple getting into the auto business, it is tech giant Amazon that is making headway getting into the car business as more car companies integrate the online retailer’s Alexa voice-activated personal assistant into their in-car connected services.
The latest automaker to join forces with Amazon is Toyota, which will start adding Alexa connectivity to some of its vehicles starting this year. Alexa will enable drivers and passengers to get directions, control in-car infotainment services and perform all the other ask-and-answer functions Alexa delivers in the home application.
Why team with Alexa? For one thing, Amazon’s Alexa has better voice recognition than most of the car companies have been able to develop on their own. And Alexa is becoming so ubiquitous in homes that car companies and their customers like the idea of seamless connectivity and familiarity from home to car. Amazon also announced an office-based Alexa last year too. Pretty soon, Alexa could be as common as a calculator to do math for people.
Besides Toyota, Amazon has signed up Fiat Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan.
“Voice services are rapidly becoming more popular and through our integration with Amazon Alexa, Toyota and Lexus customers will soon be able to easily speak to Alexa in their cars while on-the-go,” said Zack Hicks, senior vice president and chief information officer of Toyota Motor North America and chief executive officer and president of Toyota Connected.
“We’re thrilled that Toyota and Lexus will bring Alexa to customers on the road,” said John Scumniotales, head of product for Amazon Alexa Automotive. “Our vision for Alexa is that she should be everywhere a customer might need her – at home, in the office, on phones – and in cars. This integration means that customers can interact with Alexa, virtually anywhere they drive.”
Apple has migrated into vehicles, too, with Apple CarPlay and automakers have also adopted AndroidAuto. Both services allow drivers to essentially have their smartphones connected and mimicked on the display screen of the vehicle so that consumers do not have to manage two different electronic platforms and content systems. The integration of Alexa takes this trend one step further making a consumer's/driver's connection to the world seamless whether they are at home, in the car or at the office.
