Ford, Toyota and a number of other automotive OEMs have formed the SmartDeviceLink Consortium, a non-profit group that will promote the use of an open-source platform for creating apps that will connect smartphones and vehicles.
The move is considered a direct challenge to Apple and Google, which have both announced smartphone control interfaces for vehicles (CarPlay and Android Auto, respectively).
Mazda Motor Corporation, PSA Group, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI) and Suzuki Motor Corporation also joined the consortium, along with suppliers Elektrobit, Luxoft and Xevo. Harman, Panasonic, Pioneer and QNX have signed letters of intent to join the group.
SmartDeviceLink (SDL) is a standard set of protocols and messages to connect applications on a smartphone to a vehicle head unit. SDL can be used with iOS, Android, and Blackberry smartphones. The technology is based on Ford’s AppLink software, which was handed over to the open source community in 2013. That same year Ford also acquired Livio, a software development startup, which will manage development of SDL.
Ford and Toyota first began collaborating on infotainment systems in 2011, and began exploring the introduction of SDL in Toyota vehicles in 2015. Toyota demonstrated SDL integration in the Livio exhibit at last year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
“Encouraging innovation is at the center of Ford’s decision to create SmartDeviceLink, and this consortium is a major step toward that goal,” said Doug VanDagens, global director, Ford Connected Vehicle and Services, and a board member of the consortium. “Consumers will win with new, innovative app experiences from increased collaboration and developer engagement.”
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Ford does offer CarPlay and Android Auto Support, while Toyota has not done so, citing safety and security issues. IHS Automotive estimates that these types of solutions will generate $18.6 billion in sales by 2021.
The Ford and Toyota partnership could help shore up the OEMs position in the infotainment space, which Google and Apple could potentially disrupt because of their more familiar interfaces. Toyota plans to commercialize its own SDL-based telematics system in 2018.
“Connectivity between smartphones and the vehicle interface is one of the most important connected services,” said Shigeki Tomoyama, president of Toyota’s Connected Company. “Using SmartDeviceLink, we can provide this service to our customers in a safe and secure manner. We are excited to collaborate with many auto manufacturers and suppliers who share our view.”
SmartDeviceLink enables smartphone app developers to integrate their app functions with in-vehicle technology such as the vehicle display screen, steering wheel controls and voice recognition. From a consumer standpoint, there would be benefits because developers and automakers could work together to improve the open-source code.
Toyota also has supported MirrorLink, another technology which allows drivers to run some apps from their smartphones on dashboard screens. It was created by the Car Connectivity Consortium, which includes GM, Volkswagen (the driving force behind MirrorLink), Hyundai, Samsung Electronics and HTC.
Since 2011, MirrorLink has been deployed on an estimated 4 million vehicles. The advantage of SDL (and AppLink) is that, as an open-source platform, it would provide a way for developers to more easily create apps without having to re-code the software for every automaker.
According to IHS, approximately half a million CarPlay vehicles have hit the roads since the end of 2015. Roughly half as many Android Auto units have been produced.
“This puts SDL at a tremendous advantage currently, with an install base of around 8.5 million vehicles,” according to an IHS report. “It’s important to note that SDL isn’t a direct competitor with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto – both systems are exclusively mirroring systems, while SDL can be used on audio-only systems, too.”
Mirroring technology simply ports some portion of the smartphone interface into the vehicle display. SDL, on the other hands, provides a framework that OEMs can use to create brand-specific interfaces that can also leverage vehicle sensor data and other information. SDL also has added navigation compatibility, which makes it easier for developers to port their apps through the solution.
SDL also has other benefits. It is open source and doesn’t require any licensing fees for automotive OEMs. It can also be used with a wider variety of head-unit systems compared to CarPlay and Android Auto. SDL is also easier to use for developers, and can access some OBD-II diagnostics information.
According to J.D. Power, when smartphone mirroring technology fails to work as expected, consumers are more likely to blame the automaker than the smartphone connectivity system.
“These issues are compounded by the fact that the presence of smartphone mirroring technology in a vehicle – and the hope that it will improve the user experience – is often a key purchase decision factor for many owners,” said Kathy Rizk, director of automotive consulting at J.D. Power. “When this technology does not function as well as expected – and, in fact, creates new and unique problems – owners are understandably frustrated.”
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