Ford to use Apple Maps in new self-driving system

Ford Motor Company said Thursday that the driver assistance systems in its new electric vehicles will use Apple Maps software, giving the tech company a more central place in vehicle operations than it has ever had.

Apple CarPlay, available in many cars, allows drivers to connect the vehicle’s screens to their iPhones and use apps like Apple Maps or Siri.

But the deal with Ford goes further by allowing Apple’s software to play a role in how cars and trucks move when they operate autonomously.

In another first, Apple and Ford engineers are working together to improve the self-driving capabilities of cars that will arrive in dealer showrooms next year. Previously, Apple and car companies worked separately. Apple’s software will reside in the vehicle, meaning owners won’t need an iPhone to use it.

The autonomous driving system that controls how the car steers, brakes and reacts to traffic conditions is designed by Ford. However, the system will use Apple software to understand the location of interchanges, freeways and other highway features and navigate from one location to another. Current Ford vehicles have their own navigation system.

“Apple Maps will be built into the vehicle, so you don’t have to pay anything extra,” Jim Farley, Ford’s chief executive, said in an interview. “This is one of the most important announcements for Ford,” he added.

Many automakers have been reluctant to work too closely with tech companies like Apple and Google, fearing they’ll give up revenue and customer relationships to companies with far greater financial resources. Apple’s $4.8 trillion stock market valuation dwarfs Ford’s $58 billion valuation.

Many newer automakers like Tesla and Rivian have never allowed their customers to use CarPlay or Android Auto, Google’s equivalent, in their cars. Tesla and Rivian have developed their own software systems that allow users to download certain applications from other companies. Some executives from established automakers plan to emulate the model.

General Motors has said it intends to replace CarPlay in all new cars with GM software. The cars will still have access to certain apps from Apple, Google and other companies, but the automaker will control the operating system.

However, traditional car manufacturers are struggling to develop their own software, which is becoming an increasingly important part of car design. Chinese automakers are growing rapidly in Europe and Asia, in part because the software in their vehicles is easier to use and more capable, analysts say. One of the most successful Chinese automakers is Xiaomi, which has made a name for itself in smartphones.

Ford is increasingly turning to partnerships to reduce costs and accelerate new vehicle development. The company said Thursday it will form a joint venture with Chinese automaker Geely Auto to produce several new cars at Ford’s plant in Valencia, Spain.

The two companies will jointly develop a Ford hybrid vehicle that will be produced at the plant from 2028. Ford will also produce a new version of the Bronco sport utility vehicle here, while Geely will produce two new electric vehicles.

Ford has suffered from declining sales in Europe, partly because it does not have vehicles that appeal to Europeans. The company’s market share in the European Union was 2.5 percent in June, down from 3.1 percent a year earlier, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Ford is the first major automaker to agree to use Apple’s new automotive software, said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services and health. But Apple plans to offer it to other automakers as well, he said in an interview.

Working with Apple allows Ford to reduce development costs and still offer advanced driving features in a new electric pickup truck that the company plans to start selling next year, Mr. Farley said.

The pickup will be the first of several electric vehicles developed by a Ford team led by Alan Clark, a former Tesla executive. Ford plans to sell the pickup for around $30,000, which is significantly less than most electric vehicles available today.

Ford engineers are taking the lead in developing a more capable version of Blue Cruise, the self-driving software that allows Ford owners to take their hands off the wheel on certain highways. But they also work with Apple engineers, Mr. Farley said.

The technology will allow cars to drive themselves from highway on-ramps to off-ramps, which would not be possible without Apple technology, he said. “We really want to have hands-free automated driving at this price point,” Mr Farley said.

Apple and Ford plan to continue adding features to the vehicles, he said. Ford recently updated the software in some of its Mustang Mach-E vehicles to adjust the temperature of the batteries when using Apple Maps to navigate to a charging station. Thanks to this, cars can be charged faster. Previously, battery preconditioning was only possible when drivers were using a Ford navigation system.

“That’s a start,” said Mr. Cue. “We have many plans for our maps in the coming years. That’s why we’re excited to work with Ford engineers on how we can continue to improve and improve them.”

Apple’s secretive team has been working on self-driving car prototypes for years, but never publicly revealed any product before the project was shelved.

Mr Cue said the technology Ford is using comes from Apple’s Maps team. “It leverages everything we’ve done over the last decade,” he said.