GM Gets Into Gear with Smart Car Integrations

Smart car technology is continuing its emergence at this week’s CE Week trade show.

Buick, for example, was showing off Apple CarPlay in its 2016 LaCrosse and Regal models. Drivers interact with the system via the car’s dashboard or by voice command, and it essentially offers a lot of the same functions found on an iPhone – Apple Maps, sending texts, controlling music, and, of course, Siri, the digital assistant, through which users are able to exercise voice command.

A similar system called Android Auto was also on display at the show, and will be available on 14 models of 2016 Chevrolet cars, along with Apple CarPlay. Continuing a theme seen in Google and Apple’s smartwatch endeavours, Apple CarPlay will require pairing with an iPhone, while Google’s Android Auto will not – and will be delivered via an update to the existing IntelliLink dashboard system on GM vehicles.

These aren’t drastic overhauls in driver-car interaction, but they’re significant steps forward in the realization of the smart car. As the Internet of Things continues to unfold in business, the home, smart cities and so forth, the connected car is likely to become a much bigger concern; fortunately for GM, Apple and Google are only to keen to help it get into gear.

Source: TechRadar