One of the coolest features of the new Nissan Altima was the inclusion of Google software and services. Send2Car, POI Search and Search By Voice are great and powerful additions to on board navigation systems.
Hyundai and Kia are looking to get in on the game and have announced that these same Google services will be coming soon. Both Hyundai’s Blue Link and Kia’s UVO technologies will see the addition of the full suite of Google technologies.
“Google is a leader and innovator in search, content and technology, offering incredible tools,” said Barry Ratzlaff, director of Customer Connect at Hyundai Motor America. “Blue Link makes it easy for our owners to find and navigate to their destinations. The integration of Google Maps APIs makes Blue Link even more effective. We look forward to continuing work with Google to bring innovative solutions to Hyundai owners.”
The new 2014 Kia Sorento will be the first car from the pair of Korean makers to include the new features, and should be hitting showroom floors in a few weeks.
“We’re always looking for ways to make it easier for people to discover more relevant information to help them make informed choices – whether that’s where to go for a coffee, or where to take dry cleaning,” said Tarun Bhatnagar, head of Enterprise Geo at Google.
With the way Google has integrated itself into our lives, automotive integration seems like the next logical step.
