TL;DR
Ford will incorporate Apple Maps into its new UEV platform starting with a $30,000 electric pickup truck in 2027, and road data will also feed BlueCruise.
Ford will use Apple Maps as a built-in navigation system for its next generation of electric vehicles, replacing the Google-based software it has run since 2023. The integration uses Apple’s new MapKit for Automotive SDK and will launch with Ford’s $30,000 midsize electric pickup truck in 2027, according to a joint announcement from both companies on Wednesday. Ford will also incorporate Apple’s road-level mapping data into the development of its next-generation BlueCruise hands-free driving system.
The move is a notable change. Ford partnered with Google in 2021 to bring Android Automotive to millions of its vehiclesmaking it one of the highest-profile adopters of Google’s automotive software platform, but for its most important new product line, Ford is now turning to Apple. CEO Jim Farley called the electric pickup truck a vehicle that “redefines what advanced technology can be,“and said that Ford is”It is an honor to be among the first to incorporate”Apple Maps directly in a car.
The system will offer turn-by-turn directions with natural language search, real-time traffic and incident data, and EV-specific route planning that takes into account charging station locations, estimated range, and battery preconditioning. This latter feature automatically heats or cools the battery before reaching a fast charger, which can significantly reduce charging times. Apple Senior Vice President of Services Eddy Cue said the SDK allows automakers to create a navigation experience that matches the look and feel of their own vehicle software rather than simply mirroring the Apple Maps app.
Beyond navigation, Ford’s Latitude AI team will use Apple’s road-level data to create a more seamless entry and exit experience for BlueCruise, the New York Times reported. That means Apple’s mapping data will help the hands-free driving system understand where freeway junctions, merges and exits are located. Google’s Android Automotive platform has been gaining ground across the industry.But Ford’s decision to tap Apple for its flagship electric vehicle platform suggests the competition for automotive software is far from settled.
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The electric pickup truck that will launch on Ford’s Universal Electric Vehicle platform will be built at the Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky, using LFP batteries and megacasting to reach the $30,000 goal. CarPlay will continue to be available in Ford vehicles along with native Apple Maps integration. Ford has not said whether its existing Android Automotive models will eventually switch to Apple Maps or if the change will apply only to UEV-based vehicles in the future.
