Move over, Apple. Word has it that Google is also looking to transform your car's dashboard.
According to a report this week from Automotive News, citing "three sources briefed on the project," the Web giant is gearing up to debut technology that will rival Apple's recently unveiled CarPlay. Google's system, known internally as Auto Link, will reportedly allow Android smartphones to control the car's own controls and display screen.
It is said to be the first product developed in conjunction with the Open Automotive Alliance, a Google-led collaboration with Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai, and Nvidia that's intended to accelerate in-car tech innovation.
Google is planning to show off the interface at its I/O conference, which takes place on June 25 and 26 in San Francisco, though the company won't reveal which automakers will use the system first. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the report.
Meanwhile, Apple's CarPlay, first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, is billed as a "smarter, safer way to use your iPhone in the car." It syncs your iPhone with your car's built-in display and features Siri voice control, letting you easily get directions, make calls, send and receive messages, and listen to music while keeping your hands on the steering wheel.
CarPlay will make its debut this year in select cars from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo. A number of other automakers and aftermarket car stereo manufacturers are said to be embracing the technology.
For more, see: Hands On With Apple CarPlay and 5 Things to Know About Apple CarPlay.