Toyota Motor Corp. (TM, Financial) has agreed to bring to its car Android Auto, which is developed by Google (GOOG, Financial). For a long time, the company had tried to avoid using this software due to security concerns until now.
Bird’s-eye view
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto essentially make driving safer by reducing distractions. In fact, it encourages motorists to have their eyes on the road and their hands on the steering wheel while driving the car. The key features of a smartphone can be displayed in the car’s dashboard for easy navigation. Besides, the driver would also be able to handle messaging, audio streaming and calls.
The fact that Toyota is planning to add an Android app may even spur customers who resisted buying Toyota cars due to lack of connectivity. The company finally acknowledged that there remains high demand for Android Auto. As per the reports by Bloomberg, the company should make an announment in October with respect to bringing in Android Auto in its cars.
Toyota’s representative commented, “We understand there is demand for Android Auto and we have not forgotten our Android customers ... If we offer this feature, or any other features, in the future, we will do so with confidence that consumer privacy and data security have been addressed to Toyota’s high standards.”
In contrast, Google did not have anything to say with regard to the speculation.
The Japanese carmaker announced this past January that it would also bring in Apple’s CarPlay compatibility. As a matter of fact, CarPlay would first run in 2019 Toyota Avlon.
Last word
As far as Android Auto is concerned, it is attuned with approximately 50 different car brands across the globe, which is just shy of the 60 different car brands with which Apple’s CarPlay is compatible.
Shifting gears, there is no definite news regarding which car would first run the Android Auto. However, there is hearsay that Google would make an official announcement about this.
Google already has similar ventures with Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi at a much larger sale. These automakers run Android Auto in their vehicles. Google’s arrangement with Toyota will support its furthering its effort put in Android Auto.
Disclosure: I do not own any position in the stock mentioned in this article.
