TomTom, the specialist in navigation software, has unveiled TomTom IndiGO, an interface for cars based on Android Automotive. The company aims to provide an interface suitable for modern cars and electric vehicles.
IndiGO runs on the popular Android Automotive OS operating system, which allows automakers to easily develop and integrate new applications and services for the platform. TomTom is however making a number of changes. All Google services are thus replaced by other components. The mapping system is for example replaced by that of TomTom. Voice commands are no longer handled by Google Assistant, but by Alexa.
The system has been designed to be as flexible as possible in order to adapt to as many vehicles as possible, regardless of the number of screens on the dashboard or the sensors available on the vehicle.
Safety and simplicity
IndiGO is designed for electric cars and includes features to make life easier for their owners, such as a list of nearby charging stations sorted according to their power.
To ensure the safety of drivers and users around them, TomTom has decided to limit the use of certain features while driving. For example, it is not possible to send or reply to a message while driving. You must be at a standstill.
“We have learned over the years that developing vehicle software can be slow and expensive for automakers. TomTom IndiGO is the perfect answer to the needs of our customers. With IndiGO, we provide them with a powerful, flexible and cost-effective development environment to create cutting-edge digital experiences that take a fraction of the time and cost usual, ”said Harold Goddijn, CEO of TomTom.
So far, no partnership has been announced with an automobile manufacturer.
