Toyota Joins Forces With Ford To Counter Android Auto And Apple CarPlay

Toyota has stated that it will be using Ford's SmartDeviceLink software as the standard for connecting smartphone apps to dashboard screens of its vehicles.

Detroit based Ford and Toyota, the world's largest carmaker, are appealing to other car manufacturers to join in as they try to reduce dependence on Apple and Google. Dashboard units fitted with Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto softwares are currently being fitted to many new automobiles due to customer demands for better connections between cars and smartphones.

Recently, Audi, BMW and Mercedes had bought Nokia's HERE maps divison and will use HERE as a foundation for new connectivity services and features.