Ford To Expand Amazon Alexa Capability, Introduce Sketch App For Infotainment Screen

Ford will introduce over-the-air updates to its vehicles with a service it’s calling Power-Up. Through it, Ford will update its infotainment and digital services starting in F-150s, Mach-Es.

Power-up has already started rolling out to those vehicles, but updates will continue as more and more vehicles gain the capability. Ford’s next update will be the largest planned rollout of Amazon Alexa hands-free infotainment interaction technology in the industry.

This year, Ford plans to roll the voice control function to 700,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada, followed by millions more in the coming years. They will work together to improve the tech, too.

Also Read: BlueCruise Hands-Free Driving System For F-150 And Mustang Mach-E Costs $600 For 3 Years

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiWrnNaboDs

“We’re excited to work with Amazon to bring powerful new AI-enabled experiences to Ford customers,” says Alex Purdy, director of business operations and connectivity at Ford. “We believe in the power of teaming up with other innovators. Bringing Ford’s vehicle know-how together with Amazon’s technology expertise will deliver in-vehicle capabilities that help our retail customers travel more enjoyably and with ease while helping our commercial customers operate more profitably.”

This update will begin this fall in the Bronco, Edge, F-150, the Mach-E, and the Super Duty.

Ford will also introduce new functions, like Sketch, which allows users to draw on the infotainment screen and for simple gaming, too. More to the point, it’s the technology that will allow for BlueCruise to be downloaded over-the-air.

The advanced driving technology will take over some driving duties on highways mapped by Ford. Developed for the F-150 and Mach-E, the software will require an extra purchase on most vehicles.

Ford promises that most updates will be quick downloads and any update that requires an update can be scheduled to happen overnight.

“We’ve invested in more seamless technology so updates can happen while you’re sleeping—making your next ride a better experience,” said Purdy.