PARIS — Mercedes-Benz will use embedded Faurecia’s Aptoide technology to power navigation and other vehicle infotainment functions in a crucial win for the app provider against Google and other technology firms to control car dashboards.
The companies said on Thursday that under a multi-year partnership, from 2023 the joint venture between auto supplier Faurecia and independent app store Aptoide will integrate the German premium carmaker’s MBUX multimedia system, with its open platform offering nearly 250 apps — navigation, traffic, streaming, payment solution, information on parking and charging stations.
Tech giants like Google and Amazon are in a race for a bigger share of the growing vehicle infotainment market. Faurecia-Aptoide’s deputy general manager, Thomas Belin, told Reuters that the Mercedes contract helps boost his company’s position.
“Today, with such contracts we see that we have this critical mass (…) and that we are legitimate in this market,” he said.
The joint venture between French supplier Faurecia and Portuguese Android application specialist Aptoide already has contracts with Volkswagen Group and BMW to provide their vehicles with its Android Automotive ecosystem.