In many automotive circles, Silicon Valley?s takeover of in-car infotainment system is considered a foregone conclusion. But despite some of their clunky and cumbersome products, traditional manufacturers aren?t ready to give up that fight and ordain Apple CarPlay and Android Auto inevitable winners.
Ford, for one, believes it can withstand the challenge and present a viable alternative. The company has been collaborating with Toyota on the development of an alternative infotainment platform this year.
?We do bring capability and expertise within the vehicle,? Don Butler, executive director of Ford?s connected vehicle and services division, said during the Tu-Automotive Conference in suburban Detroit. ?I know there are criticisms. But we?re getting that high quality. That core experience is essential, and we?re not going to cede that to Google and Apple.? Infotainment systems are increasingly seen as an area where automakers can make an impression with customers. Car owners who report satisfaction with their infotainment features are up to 5.7 percent more likely to be loyal to their brand, according to a recent survey from global analytics firm SBD.
On the flip side, no company learned the harsh lessons of infotainment problems more drastically than Ford, which has watched its ranking in the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study plummet based largely on in-car technology problems. The company ranked 31st out of 32 brands measured in the latest study. Butler says the comp...