CES 2014: Google forms Open Automotive Alliance to bring Android into cars this year

Late last month, we first heard about Google’s plans to get its Android OS  into cars and on the sidelines of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at Las Vegas, the Internet giant has made this official. Google has tied up with a number of major automotive companies in order to accelerate development.

The Open Automotive Alliance (OAA) is made up of GM Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Audi, chipmaker Nvidia and, of course, Google. The aim of OAA is to get Android into cars starting in 2014 and is dedicated to a common platform that will “drive innovation and make technology in the car safer and intuitive”.

Android in your cars soon (Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Using key tenets like openness, customisation and scale that Android users across the world are already acquainted with, the OAA will aim to bring technology to cars for not just the passengers but also for drivers. The OAA is also working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the US in order to help develop an experience that is helpful for drivers without disrupting their focus on the road. The association will be trying to help drivers and passengers access important functions such as navigation, apps and music, in the car, just like they do on their Android smartphones.

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Apple too has in-car ambitions with iOS in the car. The company has tied up with the likes of BMW, Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz division, General Motors and Honda for the feature. While we could see iOS in the car by 2015, OAA aims to bring Android to cars in 2014. Let the car-wars begin, and please excuse the pun.