Amazon hinted at a Fire TV entertainment system last month and now the online retailer has officially announced the “Fire TV Edition for Auto” at CES.
Putting aside the wordy name, Fire TV Auto is exactly what it sounds like as it brings the Fire TV experience to vehicles. Amazon didn’t say which models, but they confirmed a partnership with BMW and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
The company didn’t release pictures of the device, but said it will feature a touchscreen interface, offline playback and Alexa integration. Amazon also promised a “living room TV experience” which will allow users to “watch a wide variety of content and the latest shows from the most popular video services worldwide.”
Like the company’s popular Fire TV Stick, content can be streamed using an internet connection. While this is typically done using home Wi-Fi, Fire TV Auto is designed to use a vehicle’s LTE connection or a mobile hotspot.
While Amazon didn’t release pictures of the device, it sounds like a rear seat entertainment system. Alexa Auto vice president Ned Curic alluded to this last month when he said “There is a lot of demand by automakers for having something like a Fire TV in a rear seat.” At the time, the device was billed as a rear-seat entertainment system which could stream content from services such as Amazon Prime Video.
A lot of questions remain, but BMW’s Fathi El-Dwaik said “Adding Fire TV to future BMW vehicles represents a big step in bringing the best of streamed entertainment to our products.” He went on to say customers can expect a “unique and special” experience that is similar to what Fire TV provides in the home.
