NoDak
Senior Member
Toyota is developing a new telematics system. But rather than going it alone with its own standard, the Japanese auto giant is teaming up with Ford and its Livio division to base its new system on the SmartDeviceLink (SDL) platform. The resulting technology is debuting this week at CES in Las Vegas.
SDL is described as an open-source platform that allows occupants to operate smartphone apps through the vehicle's infotainment panel and through voice recognition. Instead of conforming to an interface like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, SDL apps can be tailored to match the automaker's interface. The more automakers adopt the standard, the more vehicles will be open to using SDL apps.
The collaboration has been years in the making. As far back as 2011, the two automakers set about collaborating on a new standard for vehicle telematics. Ford then acquired Livio – the software company responsible for SmartDeviceLink – in 2013. And just this past June, Toyota began exploring using the Livio system in its vehicles. With that exploratory phase now complete, Toyota is now moving ahead in using SDL as its platform for in-car connectivity. Toyota and Ford are hoping the standard catches on across the industry.
This isn't the first time we're seeing Toyota take an alternative approach to the Apple and Google platforms rapidly spreading across the industry. This past August, the automaker announced it had selected Telenav's Scout GPS Link system instead of the native maps apps in CarPlay or Android Auto. Nor is it the first time we're seeing competing automakers partnering to adopt and promote a common infotainment platform, following the acquisition of Nokia's HERE mapping system by Audi, BMW, and Daimler.
Toyota joins Ford in Livio app partnership
SDL is described as an open-source platform that allows occupants to operate smartphone apps through the vehicle's infotainment panel and through voice recognition. Instead of conforming to an interface like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, SDL apps can be tailored to match the automaker's interface. The more automakers adopt the standard, the more vehicles will be open to using SDL apps.
The collaboration has been years in the making. As far back as 2011, the two automakers set about collaborating on a new standard for vehicle telematics. Ford then acquired Livio – the software company responsible for SmartDeviceLink – in 2013. And just this past June, Toyota began exploring using the Livio system in its vehicles. With that exploratory phase now complete, Toyota is now moving ahead in using SDL as its platform for in-car connectivity. Toyota and Ford are hoping the standard catches on across the industry.
This isn't the first time we're seeing Toyota take an alternative approach to the Apple and Google platforms rapidly spreading across the industry. This past August, the automaker announced it had selected Telenav's Scout GPS Link system instead of the native maps apps in CarPlay or Android Auto. Nor is it the first time we're seeing competing automakers partnering to adopt and promote a common infotainment platform, following the acquisition of Nokia's HERE mapping system by Audi, BMW, and Daimler.
Toyota joins Ford in Livio app partnership
