[ http://tier10lab.com/2013/04/24/automakers-slow-integration-apple-siri-eyes-free-compatibility/ ] At its 2012 Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple, Inc. showcased the nine automakers that were targeted for integrating Apple products into their new vehicle models. In the 10 months since, only one automaker has had vehicles on the road with Apple product integration.

1.
Automakers Slow to Integrate Apple's Siri
"Eyes Free" Compatibility
http://tier10lab.com/2013/04/24/automakers-slow-integration-apple-siri-eyes-free-compatibility/
April 24, 2013
By Xavier Villarmarzo
At its 2012 Worldwide Developers Conference, held last June in California, Apple, Inc. showcased the
nine automakers that were targeted for integrating Apple products — specifically the iPhone – into their
new vehicle models. In the 10 months since, only one automaker has had vehicles on the road with Apple
product integration.
Obviously, the automakers have been slow to implement Apple integration — specifically the Siri “Eyes
Free.” Whether this is something Apple expected is unknown. However, the problem seems to be long
lead times for vehicle products, which, in turn, prevents vehicles from staying up-to-date with electronics;
this scenario is especially true for current-generation vehicles that have been in production for the past 10
months.
In other words, it looks like Apple product integration has proved more difficult than planned. The rapidly
changing, consumer-electronic technologies are hard to keep up-to-date in vehicles when vehicle
technology doesn’t get updated as frequently. This situation clearly makes it difficult for a feature like Siri
“Eyes Free,” which allows iPhone users running iOS 6 to have Siri perform many different tasks in the
vehicle aside from phone calls and text messages. Conflicts in technology are also sure to arise from
different software and hardware available that comes from several manufacturers.

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“A car that launches in the 2014 model year was [designed] up to five years ago.” said Sara LeBlanc,
General Motor’s program manager for MyLink in the Spark and Sonic, during her recent interview with
Wired magazine.
LeBlanc continued, “If it’s a new vehicle, they might be able to set up the [software] so it knows when to
use Siri and when to use the [embedded] voice rec. And, it isn’t like you can figure out the coding for one
radio and read it across to the other ones. If it’s already in production, then it’s even more complicated.”
Until now, GM continued to be the only automaker with vehicles on the road that have Siri “Eyes Free”
integration. The Chevrolet Spark and Chevrolet Sonic are entry-level subcompact vehicles targeted at
technologically connected, urban young adults. Mercedes-Benz, which has been Apple-product friendly,
is set to roll out “Eyes Free” near the end of this month in an add-on accessory, the Drive Kit Plus for
iPhone. American Honda is expected to have three models with the feature by this summer — the 2013
Honda Accord and the Acura RDX and ILX models.
As for the remaining five automakers mentioned at the 2012 Worldwide Developers Conference, none
have given a timetable for “Eyes Free” integration. BMW, Audi, Chrysler, Jaguar/Land Rover and Toyota
recently gave statements to Wired that ranged from “no announcements at this time” to being unable to
discuss future products.
[Source: Wired]
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