Ford And Google Form Partnership, Accelerating Digital Transformation

Ford and Google have formally announced their strategic partnership to fully adopt Google’s products in their vehicles as well as all aspects of data processing.

Beginning 2023, this six-year partnership will see Ford vehicles be powered by Android together with Google apps and services built-in.

Alongside the Android Automotive operating system, Ford will also leverage on Google Cloud’s Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and data analytics technologies to accelerate the automaker’s digital transformation, modernise operations and enable connected vehicle technologies. 

Being connected and having constant data streaming, the new Ford vehicles will be able to receive regular over-the-air updates to ensure everything in the vehicle is working smoothly or even enable new features, as well as real-time notices such as maintenance requests or trade-in alerts.

“As Ford continues the most profound transformation in our history with electrification, connectivity and self-driving, Google and Ford coming together establishes an innovation powerhouse truly able to deliver a superior experience for our customers and modernize our business,” said Jim Farley, President and CEO of Ford.

For those who have experienced Android Auto in their infotainment system, the highlight of the connectivity has to be the voice-enabled Google Assistant feature, allowing the driver to speak naturally and focus on the driving.

“From the first moving assembly line to the latest driver-assist technology, Ford has set the pace of innovation for the automotive industry for nearly 120 years,” said Google and Alphabet CEO, Sundar Pichai. “We’re proud to partner to apply the best of Google’s AI, data analytics, compute and cloud platforms to help transform Ford’s business and build automotive technologies that keep people safe and connected on the road.”

The two companies will also form a new cooperative group called Team Upshift, which will make use of the talent and assets of both Ford and Google to develop technologies that improve customer experience via data-driven opportunities.