Toyota said it will adopt Ford's SmartDeviceLink system to offer smartphone connectivity in its vehicles, and the two automakers invited other manufacturers to join the platform.
"Developing a safer and more secure in-car smartphone connectivity service which better matches individual vehicle features is exactly the value and advantage an automaker can offer customers," said Toyota's Shigeki Terashi.
SDL technology integrates smartphones apps with vehicles through dashboard buttons, display screens and voice recognition technology to project navigation or music streaming apps from a driver’s smartphone. The new smartphone integration system could help Ford and Toyota reduce dependence on Apple or Alphabet Inc's Google, company officials said.
