Jun 05 2015

Toyota engineers will explore the development of an open-source version of Ford's AppLink connected-car infotainment system, both companies revealed Wednesday.

 

The move is yet another sign of the auto world's willingness to collaborate if the result is pleasing tech-savvy consumers bent on seamlessly migrating their smartphone-driven lives into the automobiles.Toyota's connected fleet currently runs a system called Entune, but the Japanese automaker is looking into the adoption of the SmartDeviceLink platform, or SDL, which is an open-source version of Ford's AppLink system.

 

In such cars, consumers simply plug in their iOS or Android phone and the car's dash instantly recognizes the device and creates a complimentary screen. Voice commands can be used for most tasks, ranging from navigation to answering text messages.

Ford has said its entire model range would be CarPlay and Android Auto compatible by the end of 2016, while Chevrolet recently announced that more than a dozen 2016 models from Spark to Corvette would offer access to both systems.

 

Ford and Toyota first agreed to collaborate on telematics in 2011. This latest announcement extends the collaboration between the two leading automakers.