Add starting your car to the list of tasks Amazon’s personal assistant can take care of for you.
Ford says it’s working to make its car infotainment system Sync compatible with the Amazon Echo. That means you’ll be able to perform tasks such as starting your car from the comfort of your couch just by asking Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant that works through the Echo speaker. You can also ask the Echo to tell your Ford to start your car at a specific time or set it to a particular internal temperature, handy for those cold winter months.
Ford plans to make it easier to keep track of your car’s status long before you’re ready to walk out the door, too. In addition to starting the car using the Echo, you’ll also be able to lock or unlock your vehicle, check its fuel level, learn its charge status if it’s an electric vehicle, and find out the car’s mileage summary.
But it’s not just about controlling your car from your couch — Ford also says that you’ll be able to access Alexa through a voice recognition button mounted on the car’s steering wheel. That means you could use Alexa to control smart devices in your home. For example, you could ask Alexa if your garage door is closed or if your porch lights are turned on while you’re en route. Ford is also working with the smart home platform Wink to make it easier to control home appliances from the car.
Ford hasn’t said when Amazon’s voice assistant will be ready for use in the car, but it’s an indication that Amazon doesn’t intend to be left out of the race to control your vehicle. This is Amazon’s first major step towards integrating its services into automobiles, which comes more than a year after Apple and Google have introduced their respective CarPlay and Android Auto connected car platforms. Both services allow you to access Siri or Google Now through your car’s dashboard, making it easier to make and receive phone calls, control the music playing in your car, and get directions on the go.
CarPlay and Android Auto, however, don’t allow interaction between the car and your home the way Amazon’s Alexa will — they’re really meant for making it safer to use the features of your smartphone while driving.
These Amazing Solar-Powered Cars Just Raced Across An Entire Country
The Belgian Punch Powertrain Solar Team near Glendambo as the team races on Day 4 of the 2015 World Solar Challenge on Oct. 21, 2015. 45 Solar cars from 25 different countries participated in the 3,000 km race from Darwin to Adelaide, AustraliaGeert Vanden Wijngaert—AFP/Getty ImagesThe University of Michigan Solar Car Team car competes during the fourth day of the 2015 World Solar Challenge in Coober Pedy, Australia, on Oct. 21, 2015. Geert Vanden Wijngaert—APPunch Powertrain Solar Team shows team members posing above their cars after the qualification lap at Hidden Valley race track in Darwin on Oct. 18, 2015.Geert Vanden Wijngaert—AFP/Getty ImagesThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology Solar Electric Vehicle Team car competes during the qualification lap on Oct. 17, 2015. Geert Vanden Wijngaert—APThe SunSPEC car from Singapore competes during the qualification lap on Oct. 17, 2015.Geert Vanden Wijngaert—APSolar Team Eindhoven's Stella Lux during track testing on Oct. 15, 2015.Brendon Thorne—The World Solar/EPAChris Ahearn is shaded with an Australian flag as he prepares to drive Arrow1-GT from Clenergy TeamArrow Australia in the challenger class track testing on Oct. 17, 2015.Mark Kolbe—Getty Images for The World SolarTokai Challenger of Tokai University Japan entering the control stop at Coober Pedy on Day Four, Oct. 21, 2015.Mark Kolbe—Getty Images for The World SolarCrew members of the Belgian Punch Powertrain Solar Team standing as the car batteries are charged at Coober Pedy on Oct. 21, 2015.Geert Vanden Wijngaert—AFP/Getty ImagesMembers from Tokai Challenger of Tokai University Japan catch the last of the sun to charge at the end of racing in the Challenger Class on Oct. 20, 2015 outside of Coober Pedy, Australia. Mark Kolbe—Getty Images for The World SolarA member from Red One of Solar Team Twente Netherlands rests as he speaks on the phone at the end of racing in the Challenger Class on Oct. 20, 2015.Mark Kolbe—Getty Images for The World SolarThe Belgian Punch Powertrain Solar Team car on Oct. 20, 2015.Geert Vanden Wijngaert—AFP/Getty ImagesMembers of the Stanford Solar Car Project team approach the finish line at Victoria Square, Adelaide, Australia on Oct. 22, 2015.Morne de Klerk—Getty Images for World Solar ChaCar of the Dutch team Nuon Solar Team crosses the finish line to win the 2015 World Solar Challenge, in Adelaide on Oct. 22, 2015.Brenton Edwards—AFP/Getty ImagesMembers of the Stanford Solar Car Project team celebrate after finishing the race at Victoria Square in Adelaide, Australia on Oct. 22, 2015. Morne de Klerk—Getty Images for World Solar ChaDutch university Delft's Nuon Solar Team celebrates their victory on Oct. 22, 2015.Hollandse Hoogte—Corbis
