Google, Fiat Chrysler To Showcase Android 7.0 Nougat-Powered Uconnect At CES 2017

Google, after abandoning its self-driving car plans (or rather, hiving them off to another company, Waymo, under its parent Alphabet), is still working on automobile software. And in an announcement Monday, Fiat Chrysler revealed it had been working with the technology giant to develop its Uconnect car system using the Android platform.

The new version of Uconnect, to be showcased at the upcoming electronics extravaganza, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2017, in Las Vegas, is powered by Android 7.0 Nougat. It will allow Fiat Chrysler vehicles to seamlessly integrate with popular Google products like Google Assistant and Google Maps, as well as Android apps such as Pandora, Spotify, NPR One and Pocket Casts.

Chris Barman, head of electrical engineering at Fiat Chrysler, said in the statement: “This collaboration with Google has been an extremely beneficial opportunity for both companies to explore how in-vehicle infotainment and connectivity technology continues to evolve, and what it takes to meet consumers’ increasing desire for innovation of information with minimal distraction. With Android, we are able to maintain our unique and intuitive Uconnect user interface, all while integrating our easy-to-use systems with Android’s features and ecosystem of applications.”

At CES 2017, the companies will give visitors to the Fiat Chrysler booth a hands-on demonstration of the new Uconnect system — an 8.4-inch connected car system featuring Android Nougat inside a Chrysler 300 sedan — which will include comfort controls along with core infotainment features such as radio.

Patrick Brady, director of Android engineering at Google, said: “Google is committed to building Android as a turn-key automotive platform that integrates deeply with the vehicle in a safe and seamless way. This collaboration with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles brings together the industry standard for connected car systems with Android to create powerful infotainment systems designed for the digital age.”

The Fiat Chrysler exhibit will be at #6306 in the North Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center from Jan. 5-8.