Ford to develop connected car services with Google

Ford and Google have entered a strategic partnership to develop new connected vehicle services and infotainment systems.

The car maker has also named Google Cloud as its preferred cloud provider to leverage Google’s expertise in data, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML).

As part of the new six-year partnership, millions of future Ford vehicles will utilise Android infotainment systems with Google apps and services such as Maps built in.

Jim Farley, president and CEO of Ford, 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 modernize our business.”

Ford and Google are establishing a new collaborative group, Team Upshift, which will focus on the development of new personalised consumer experiences, including retail experiences.

“From the first moving assembly line to the latest driver-assist technology, Ford has set the pace of innovation for the automotive industry for nearly 120 years,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet. “We’re proud to partner to apply the best of Google’s AI, data analytics, compute and cloud platforms to help transform Ford's business and build automotive technologies that keep people safe and connected on the road.”

Among the cloud-based services expected to be offered as part of the new collaboration are real-time notices for maintenance requests and trade-in alerts.

“We are obsessed with creating must-have, distinctively Ford products and services,” added Farley. “This integration will unleash our teams to innovate for Ford and Lincoln customers while seamlessly providing access to Google’s world-class apps and services.”

In 2019, Volvo announced a new partnership with Google to bring Android infotainment systems to its cars. Google also provides the infotainment software for Volvo’s sister brand Polestar, with the system debuting on the Polestar 2 last year.