Starting in 2023, millions of vehicles carrying the Ford and Lincoln brands will utilize the Android operating system, as a result of a six-year partnership revealed on Monday. This collaboration will integrate Google applications and services directly into the driving experience.

Ford and Google jointly announced the formation of Team Upshift, a new group dedicated to creating innovative consumer experiences and services powered by the Android Automotive operating system. This team may develop new approaches to vehicle purchasing, for example. The companies are also collaborating on the development of novel business strategies centered around data utilization. Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, explained that this could involve leveraging data to provide drivers with timely notifications or manage vehicle maintenance needs.

In addition, the two companies confirmed that Ford has selected Google Cloud as its primary cloud provider.

This partnership signifies a change in direction for Ford, which has historically sought to avoid reliance on third-party companies such as Google and Apple, instead prioritizing its own open-source platform. In 2017, Ford and Toyota Motor jointly established the SmartDeviceLink Consortium – referencing an open-source software alternative to Ford’s AppLink. The intention at that time was to accelerate the adoption of this open-source software, offering consumers greater flexibility in connecting and controlling their smartphone applications.

Ford communicated to TechCrunch that the SDL Consortium continues to operate with over 20 participating members. A Ford representative stated that “SDL enabled mobile applications continue to be a vital component of Ford’s innovation within the in-vehicle experience.”

It is important to distinguish Android Automotive OS from Android Auto, which functions as a supplementary interface that operates on top of an existing operating system and requires a user’s smartphone. Android Automotive OS is built upon its open-source mobile operating system, which is based on Linux. However, Google has adapted it to function directly within automobiles, rather than smartphones or tablets.

David McClelland, Ford Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships, stated that the partnership with Google “significantly enhances” their recent efforts and investments in building a robust data analytics team and expanding their software development capabilities.

“We are confident that the collaboration between Google and Ford will create a powerful center for innovation,” McClelland said. “It will expedite the modernization of Ford’s operations and, crucially, enable us to surpass customer expectations.”

Ford is not the sole automotive manufacturer planning to integrate a version of its Android operating system into its vehicles, though McClelland highlighted that the specific services and features will be distinct.

For example, Volvo announced in 2017 its intention to utilize the Android OS, and the following year revealed plans to embed voice-activated Google Assistant, the Google Play Store, Google Maps, and other Google services into its next-generation Sensus infotainment system. Volvo’s electric vehicle brand, Polestar, also employs Android Automotive OS to power the infotainment system in its latest model, the Polestar 2. Google announced in 2019 that it was making its Android Automotive operating system available to third-party developers to introduce music and other entertainment applications into vehicle infotainment systems, beginning with the Polestar 2.