You’ve probably heard about Reviver’s digital license plates, and now you might be seeing more of them too. Ford has struck a deal with the California-based firm that makes Reviver an official Ford Accessory Partner and gives the plates a proper Ford part number. What that means to Ford owners is that they’ll be able to order the Reviver RPlate from more than 300 Ford dealerships in Arizona, California and Michigan.
Though the digital plates’ slick digital presentation appeals to drivers who want their cars to look as cutting edge as possible, the benefits go beyond the cosmetic. Personalized displays with custom messaging options, location tracking, app-assisted registration renewals and real-time alerts are all possible with Reviver’s plates, and not with regular tin tags.
Although the plates can’t yet be added to cars from all states, the number is growing fast, and anyone with a legally added digital plate is free to drive their car to states where the tech has not yet been given the green light.
Related: Researchers Hacked California’s Digital License Plates Revealing Sensitive User Info
Reviver offers both hardwired plates and DIY versions with five-year battery lifespans, with prices starting at $599, according to the company’s own website, plus the cost of the service plan, which currently stands at $8 per month ($75 per year) for battery plates and $10 per month ($95 per year) for wired ones.
“To be associated with a landmark brand in the automotive industry such as Ford is truly gratifying,” said Reviver’s founder Neville Boston. “We are very proud to have met the rigorous requirements for the company’s evaluation of potential suppliers and look forward to adding the innovations of digital license plate technology to their offerings.”
This isn’t the first time in recent memory that Ford has taken some cool tech from the aftermarket and given it OEM-level status. One of the most technically interesting features of the 2016 Mustang GT350R, besides its flat-plane crank V8 and ability to spin to 8,200 rpm, was its carbon wheels.