Ready or not, the future of software-defined vehicles is here and revving up.
First off, let's hit the road with Google. They're turbocharging the in-car experience for Android-equipped vehicles with features like YouTube, video conferencing apps, and for some reason, video games. The company will also introduce an "Android for Car Apps Library" so third-party developers can design their own apps.
Meanwhile, General Motors is shifting gears, developing its own in-car software to replace Apple CarPlay. You may wonder, who has GM entrusted with its Non-Apple future? His name is Mike Abbot, and he just left a big-boy role at Apple. It's like a "hair of the dog" situation or something happening over there.
VW Group is also shaking up some leadership at their software unit, Cariad. Smooth and on-time software deployment is what the company is after, and a former Bently Manufacturing Board member, Peter Bosch, is the basket in which VW has placed all its eggs. He takes over June 1 and, if everything goes well, will usher VW into the age of software-defined vehicles.