Amazon and BMW bring Alexa to the road

Amazon and BMW have announced that Amazon Alexa will be available in all new vehicles starting in mid-2018.

Ask Alexa will be available in-car to get directions, call a business, play music or Audible content, control a ‘smart home’, check the news, and more while you’re on the go – without downloading a separate app.

Customers will also have access to thousands of Alexa skills from third-party developers. For many requests, Alexa will provide voice responses paired with visual cards on BMW’s and MINI’s control display, such as to do lists or weather forecasts.

Ned Curic, Vice President of Alexa Automotive said: “We are excited to work with BMW to bring the Alexa experience to their drivers. Voice is a big part of the future, especially in cars. Using your voice to enjoy content and interact with your car makes a great driving experience even better. We can’t wait for BMW customers to try this out.”

A BMW or Mini driver will be able to ask Alexa to turn on the outdoor lights or adjust your home’s temperature when you start the drive home from work. Or they could ask Alexa to order your favourite pizza from Domino’s, or a takeaway from Just Eat, as you drive home from work.

This in-car experience builds on the BMW Connected skill for Alexa that was introduced in 2016. The skill helps customers control their vehicle – including activating climate control, locking the doors, and more – from any Alexa-enabled device.

Amazon Alexa will be available in all 2018 model year BMW and MINI vehicles from mid-2018 in the US, UK, and Germany.