Electronics company Harman and Cariad, the automotive software division of Volkswagen Group, have announced new collaborations to enhance the in-cabin experience with a variety of new apps.
The initiative expands the range of available apps in the Group Application Store – a uniform in-car application store for cars of the Volkswagen Group brands – to 70+ depending on the model and market.
The Group Application Store integrates with the Harman Ignite Store to enable OEMs to control third-party content and user experience (UX). Audi has already implemented this store in select models starting from 2024, including the upcoming Audi Q6 e-tron, with other Volkswagen Group brands to follow.
The Harman Ignite Store, compliant with Android Automotive Operating System (AAOS) standards, is designed to provide a platform for OEMs and developers to offer consumers unique in-vehicle digital experiences.
New apps in the Group Store include: Booking.com, which helps users find and book hotels, apartments, flights and rental cars; Eventseeker, which provides personalized event services with information on concerts, sports, theatre and more events tailored to users’ preferences; and Livil, which offers an ‘In-Car Messenger’ with access to communication and work channels through voice-assisted gen AI.
Mark van der Linden, VP of partnerships at Booking.com, said, “Here at Booking.com, we are proud to make our app available to more travellers, thanks to our collaboration with Cariad and Harman. We’re providing users with the convenience of booking flights, accommodation and more on-the-go.”
Further new apps include Shelly Smart Control, an IoT app for monitoring and controlling Shelly devices, tracking energy usage and forecasting electricity bills; and Tennis TV, a streaming service from ATP Media that provides live streams, match replays and highlights for tennis fans.
Harman is also collaborating with additional companies to further expand app offerings – with Bloomberg, whose app brings Bloomberg Radio, podcasts and text-to-audio stories to in-car displays; and Microsoft, which is introducing Microsoft Teams experiences through a web conferencing app.
“We’re pleased to collaborate with Harman Ignite Store and Cariad to address the needs of hybrid workers. A new integration between the companies allows Harman to provide safe use of Microsoft Teams meeting functionality while on the road,” added Raj Paul, senior director of manufacturing and mobility industry at Microsoft.
“As a fully compliant Android Automotive OS app store, Harman Ignite Store continues to bring new app experiences into the vehicle, delivering on what consumers expect today,” said Jens Beckmann, senior director and business lead for store and FOD at Harman International. “Our growing ecosystem of apps spans diverse sectors, ensuring there is something for everyone.”
Harman and Cariad are presenting the Group Application Store to the Android Developer community at DroidCon Berlin in Germany on July 3-5.
