CES 2016: Ford, Chrysler get Apple CarPlay, Android Auto

Ford, Fiat Chrysler and Toyota have announced upgrades to their in-car infotainment systems which could begin taking effect in Australia by year's end.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will use today's 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to reveal its fourth-generation Uconnect 4.0 system, which will offer native compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems.

Fast becoming the go-to interface between smartphone and car, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility will also be standard on Ford's new SYNC 3 infotainment system, which will also be previewed at CES.

The simplicity of these two popular operating systems is creating huge demand, as users just plug in their smartphone via USB cable for a variety of phone functions to be mirrored on the car's larger (and legally usable while driving) touch-screen.

Several cars in Australia already offer these interfaces, including many vehicles from the Volkswagen Group, but neither Ford Australia nor FCA Australia have revealed which vehicles will be available with the latest multimedia technology and when.

Ford Australia's Brand Communications Manager, Jasmine Mobarek, said "market timing will be announced in due course," but it's likely we won't see SYNC 3 here until 2017.

The new SYNC 3 system can be seen in preview photos operating in the new Ford Mustang and is also expected to be initially offered in models like the Kuga and Fiesta.

FCA's new Uconnect 4.0 system, meantime, could arrive in Australia late in 2016 but timing is still being sorted out, explained FCA Australia's Senior Manager of Corporate Communications, Andrew Chesterton.

"What cars will get it and when is not known, but it will be rolled out in Australia," he confirmed.

SYNC 3 and Uconnect 4.0 will deliver larger, higher-resolution touch-screens and more powerful processors to speed up App functionality, but it seems not everyone is jumping on the Apple and Android bandwagons.

Toyota has decided against joining most mainstream car-makers and appears to have no plans to offer native Apple or Android connectivity, instead forming an unlikely partnership with Ford-owned, US-based tech start-up Livio Connect.

Toyota will use the CES to confirm it will work hand-in-hand with Ford to deploy the SmartDeviceLink or SDL telematics system in its cars. Like Android, it's an open-source system and Toyota issued a press release urging other car brands to get on board.

"…if more automakers apply SDL, app developers can develop apps which are compatible with multiple automakers' telematics systems at one time, meaning more apps available to customers in a shorter development time," reads the Toyota document.

Ford seems to be hedging its bets by offering Apple and Android compatibility while working with Toyota on the Livio SDL, and will likely offer all three operating systems in its cars.

Toyota Australia was contacted to ascertain if and when SDL will be offered to Australians, but was unable to respond at the time of writing.

Toyota is the world's largest car-maker and is clearly flexing its lobbying muscle when it comes to next-generation in-car technology platforms, with Executive Vice President Shigeki Terashi saying SDL was "a safer and more secure in-car smartphone connectivity service" than its rivals.

"We expect that many companies share our view and will participate in the industry SDL collaboration," said the Toyota executive.