Infotainment Tech for Future Ford Vehicles to Be Powered by Google’s Android

Ford is about to go full-on Android.

In a recently released statement, the automaker shared that the infotainment system of its future vehicles will run on Google’s Android operating system. The switch means the Blue Oval will no longer use the Blackberry QNX, which has powered the company’s Sync for years.

Ford revealed it is looking to begin the rollout of Google-powered Ford and Lincoln cars beginning 2023. It intends to include Google services built directly into the car. The move, though, isn’t exactly new in the industry as other automakers have previously made the switch such as Volvo and Polestar.

Ford did not detail how unique the partnership with Google is, but it maintains that forthcoming changes will be transformative. Some of the features seen to grace various Ford models in the coming years include Google Assistant, Google Play, and Google Maps, which will act as the vehicles’ main navigation system.

Fans of the Sync and Apple CarPlay have nothing to worry about as both technologies are likely to remain.

With Ford and Google working together, the latter’s Android software is expected to provide the former access to third-party developers that can create apps for current and future Ford models. Ford thinks of this as a necessary step toward allowing car owners to customize and personalize their vehicles.

The two companies are also set to create Team Upshift, a group that will help Ford streamline its operations from Google’s Cloud artificial intelligence and machine learning tech. Too, Upshift will also look into other areas of improvement such as upgrading dealership operations for the Ford and Lincoln brands.

The Ford-Google partnership will run for six years. It remains to be seen which models will be the first to get the Android technology.