Android Will Power Ford Vehicle Navigation Starting in 2023

[Marcel]

So what does this mean for those of us who has iPhones?

Android Auto can still have Apple Carplay, look at the Polestar2.

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[Ciero]

 

[dbsb3233]

Not surprised. But disappointing nonetheless. The very first state-of-the-art Mach-E's are just now delivering and they're already announcing it's obsolescence.

May not matter a lot. The actual OS might be able to handle the same functions either way. The part I will miss is native Google Maps integration.

 

[Jay_CincyOH]

Seems like leasing/Ford options with the ability to return the car at the end of the agreement is best avenue forward given his answer

 

[Gimme_my_MME]

3 years is about the cycle time when you could expect a refresh anyways. So, if they said right now that in 3 years there will be a new model with new features, what would you do? I agree that it would be awesome to buy once and continue to have it be updated forever, but at what point is that unreasonable?

I think a really good question that has been brought up here is while we may not get Android Automotive, can those with Sync 4 expect to continue to get new features past the 3 year mark or will it be limited to bug fixes?

 

[dbsb3233]

Seems like leasing/Ford options with the ability to return the car at the end of the agreement is best avenue forward given his answer

Leasing was never on the table for me. When I buy a car I buy it for life. This won't change that, but it is an annoyance that a car being touted for it's OTA ability to keep it forever updated is already announcing it's obsolescence before we get it. (Or at least a partial obsolescence. They'll probably still update a few things, but most of the effort will surely go into the new Android platform.)

 

[RonTCat]

I'm good with Sync 4 getting all the same updates as Android Automotive.

 

[SashaLondon]

So I hope they will update sync 4 at the same time with meaningful improvements.
I would guess that the refresh in 2023 will have sync 5 with android in background then.

 

[SashaLondon]

I'm good with Sync 4 getting all the same updates as Android Automotive.

Just as we can see with iOS updates that have features old ones don’t, the sync 5 will have google maps features that will be very time consuming to program for sync 4.
One reason for a new model trade in at that time.

 

[GoGoGadgetMachE]

well there's our answer at least. good to have closure on that.

now, what that means, is it important, etc. etc.... that's different. but it removes the speculation.

 

[GoGoGadgetMachE]

well there's our answer at least. good to have closure on that.

now, what that means, is it important, etc. etc.... that's different. but it removes the speculation.

actually to be completely clear I guess this does leave speculation open about how long Sync 4a will see OTA updates and what those will look like.

I am very carefully not using the word "supported" for reasons repeatedly spelled out earlier in the thread.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

actually to be completely clear I guess this does leave speculation open about how long Sync 4a will see OTA updates and what those will look like.

I am very carefully not using the word "supported" for reasons repeatedly spelled out earlier in the thread.

All in all a very disappointing development. Ford's history with previous iterations of Sync isn't stellar. This development throws a monkey wrench into the idea of long term commitment to the next two years of this car. For those who are in the nice to have category rather than I need a new car, what's enticing us to not say, "See you in 2023. Maybe?"

 

[Zoomer]

All in all a very disappointing development. Ford's history with previous iterations of Sync isn't stellar. This development throws a monkey wrench into the idea of long term commitment to the next two years of this car. For those who are in the nice to have category rather than I need a new car, what's enticing us to not say, "See you in 2023. Maybe?"

I tend to agree with sentiment from Kamuelaflyer. Ford is likely not going to have (limited?) software engineers working on both Synch and Android. I've always been the type who owns his cars for a long time and this news bothers me. I don't need "fart mode", but I do expect some OTA developments and improvements for my $60+K.

 

[RonTCat]

All in all a very disappointing development. Ford's history with previous iterations of Sync isn't stellar. This development throws a monkey wrench into the idea of long term commitment to the next two years of this car. For those who are in the nice to have category rather than I need a new car, what's enticing us to not say, "See you in 2023. Maybe?"

I agree previous Sync work hasn't been good, but it's because Ford senior management at the time needed to call their grandkids to set their VCR and figure out how their smartphone worked. That has changed in a big way in the last few years. The current team pretty much "gets it" now.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

I tend to agree with sentiment from Kamuelaflyer. Ford is likely not going to have (limited?) software engineers working on both Synch and Android. I've always been the type who owns his cars for a long time and this news bothers me. I don't need "fart mode", but I do expect some OTA developments and improvements for my $60+K.

Keep in mind that not continuing to develop Sync 4a does not necessarily mean abandoning the first 2 model years of the car. It can be as simple as the user interface no longer gets updates and what you see on <date> is what you get, while the all new 202x MME has the latest and greatest interface. OTA updates and fixes for the car could and most likely will, continue. Doing otherwise would make little sense.

Some communication on this would be nice though.

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