Android will power all Ford and Lincoln vehicles from 2023, with Google apps and services built in, following a new partnership between Ford and Google. Ford is also adopting Google Cloud as its preferred cloud provider to take advantage of Google’s expertise in data, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML).

Ford and Google are establishing a new collaborative group, Team Upshift. Utilising the resources of both companies, Team Upshift aims to push the boundaries of Ford’s transformation. This will include new personalised consumer experiences, and the development of disruptive, data-driven opportunities. 

According to the two companies, it may also include projects ranging from developing new retail experiences when buying a vehicle, creating new ownership offers based on data, and more.

“As Ford continues the most profound transformation in our history with electrification, connectivity and self-driving, Google and Ford coming together establishes an innovation powerhouse truly able to deliver a superior experience for our customers and modernise our business,” said Jim Farley, President and CEO of Ford.

“From the first moving assembly line to the latest driver-assist technology, Ford has set the pace of innovation for the automotive industry for nearly 120 years,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet. “We’re proud to partner to apply the best of Google’s AI, data analytics, compute and cloud platforms to help transform Ford’s business and build automotive technologies that keep people safe and connected on the road.”

“We are obsessed with creating must-have, distinctively Ford products and services,” said Farley. “This integration will unleash our teams to innovate for Ford and Lincoln customers while seamlessly providing access to Google’s world-class apps and services.”