Nearly a year after it was announced, Apple appears ready to introduce launch partners for its “iOS in the Car” initiative, according to a report in the Financial Times. The piece claims Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari — where Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue is a board member — will be Apple’s initial partners.
Though it does not mention iOS in the Car by name, the article claims drivers will be able to use Apple Maps for navigation on the car’s in-dash screen, as well as watch movies, listen to music, make calls and send text messages through the system with full Siri integration.
The FT says the announcement will be made at the Geneva Motor Show next week, one of the premier motor shows on the calendar.
The technology group will next week launch its first in-car operating system with Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo as it attempts to take the lead in a fierce race to dominate tomorrow’s smart cars.
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The deal marks the first time that Apple is embedding its software in devices other than its own branded products. The choice of the Ferrari, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz is seen to be in keeping with the US tech group’s high-end phones.
Apple executives have said in the past that iOS in the Car is “very important” to the company and is an essential “part of the ecosystem”. At it’s WWDC keynote last year, Apple claimed it was working with a number of partners including Honda, Nissan, Chevrolet, Hyundai, and more, in addition to Ferrari, Volvo and Mercedes. It was reported earlier this year that iOS in the Car had been plagued by organizational issues but, if the FT report is accurate, it would appear the project is quickly moving towards a public launch.
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