2015 looks like it may be a great year for smartphone integration in cars. On the heels of yesterday's announcements from Hyundai, Honda, and Volvo, German automaker Audi announced plans to support both Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto.
In a public statement, Audi board member of Technical Development Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg had this to say:
Our customers want to be 'always on' and use the services they know from their smartphones in cars as well," says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Board Member for Technical Development at AUDI AG. "In this regard, we are working closely with leading companies like Google and Apple. In the future, customers will be able to use the functions available to them on their smartphones via the operating systems in their cars as well.
User friendliness and low distraction are important parameters for integrating these functions. Data security also plays a vital role. We are separating the vehicle-related functions from the infotainment features, thereby securing the data against unauthorized access. The customer has to give express consent for the use of data generated in the vehicle,"
This news is exciting as it marks the first time Audi has publicly spoken about its relationship with Apple. The company was a founding member of the Google Open Automative Alliance and previously had only announced plans to work with Android integration. Thankfully for iOS users, drivers will now be able to choose which platform they wish to use in their new cars.
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