Google and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) are set to reveal a car at CES 2017 that is powered by the Android operating system. The annual consumer electronics show in Las Vegas will serve as the launch pad for a Chrysler 300 sedan built with an Android in-car infotainment system.
Last year, Google updated the Android open source operating system to attract the automotive industry. This perked the interest of Fiat Chrysler, which eventually collaborated with the tech company. What resulted is a vehicle that runs with an Android OS even if the automaker has its own infotainment system - the UConnect.
FCA's Uconnect allows drivers to connect to their entertainment, family and friends, destinations and vehicle systems while maintaining their focus on the road. The integration between Android and the infotainment system paves the way for Google Assistant, Google Maps, Spotify, and Pandora to work without a single glitch.
According to Chris Barman, head of electrical engineering at FCA, "With Android, we are able to maintain our unique and intuitive Uconnect user interface." He adds that the collaboration allowed them to integrate Fiat's easy-to-use systems with Android's features and ecosystem of applications.
Google is venturing deeper to tap the potentials of the automotive sector. The company introduced Android Auto, which is an in-car software platform designed to transform the vehicle's central screen into a smartphone environment. Android Auto acts as a secondary interface and is not an operating system.
In late 2016, Google also launched the Android Nougat 7.0 mobile operating system, which is developed for smartphones and tablets. The dashboard-friendly Nougat can be customized by automakers for their infotainment platform which includes Bluetooth calling, media streaming, navigation, AM/FM, multi-channel audio as well as the car's HVAC system and digital instrument clusters.
The video below offers information on Google and Fiat Chrysler's collaboration. Share your thoughts on the article in the comment section.
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