Okay… we already know that the car makers are in a race to offer the best radio/electronics so they can sell more cars. Now they are fighting to get the newest apps first.
Only a day after Ford announced a “Send to SYNC” feature based on Google Maps that lets you send directions from your PC to your SYNC radio, GM announced a similar send-to-car service via Google Maps.
In GM’s version, again, the user plots a destination via Google Maps and can send it to the car under OnStar eNav. GM is also using some Android apps for its Chevy Volt due late this year and Ford will soon let users connect to Pandora, Stitcher and a Twitter feed.
The car companies understand that the Internet/Cloud will be a selling point. Morgan Stanley just released a report stating that more users will connect to the Internet via a mobile device (including a car) than by a desktop PC within five years.
Source: Ford, GM via engadget.

In Car Experts (ICE), now a $250+ car electronics buying group, is providing its members free websites worth between $5,000 and $10,000, that are paid for through member dues, said the group.
The websites are updated regularly by ICE with Christmas, spring, etc. promotions as well as ICE sales. The sites are also designed so they can be easily updated by the dealer without requiring a web developer maintain the site. Executive director Rob Elliott claims, “It’s 2010 and having a website is no longer optional.”
ICE currently has about 150 member-store fronts. Examples of ICE websites are at www.sound-fx.info or www.wrightssoundgallery.biz.
Source: ICE

In Car Experts (ICE), now a $250+ car electronics buying group, is providing its members free websites worth between $5,000 and $10,000, that are paid for through member dues, said the group.
The websites are updated regularly by ICE with Christmas, spring, etc. promotions as well as ICE sales. The sites are also designed so they can be easily updated by the dealer without requiring a web developer maintain the site. Executive director Rob Elliott claims, “It’s 2010 and having a website is no longer optional.”
Also MESA (Mobile Electronics Specialists of America) announced its 14th and 15th members are Sound Sensations of Marietta, GA and Beach Auto Sound of Huntington Beach, CA and more retailers will officially join the buying group in the next few weeks.
ICE currently has about 150 member-store fronts. Examples of ICE websites are at www.sound-fx.info or www.wrightssoundgallery.biz.
MESA is a member-owned car AV buying group that expects to become a $1/2 billion buying force.
Source: ICE and MESA

In Car Experts (ICE), now a $250+ car electronics buying group, is providing its members free websites worth between $5,000 and $10,000, that are paid for through member dues, said the group.
The websites are updated regularly by ICE with Christmas, spring, etc. promotions as well as ICE sales. The sites are also designed so they can be easily updated by the dealer without requiring a web developer maintain the site. Executive director Rob Elliott claims, “It’s 2010 and having a website is no longer optional.”
Also MESA (Mobile Electronics Specialists of America) announced its 14th and 15th members are Sound Sensations of Marietta, GA and Beach Auto Sound of Huntington Beach, CA and more retailers will officially join the buying group in the next few weeks.
ICE currently has about 150 member-store fronts. Examples of ICE websites are at www.sound-fx.info or www.wrightssoundgallery.biz.
MESA is a member-owned car AV buying group that expects to become a $1/2 billion buying force.
Source: ICE and MESA

Visteon Corporation has launched an app that lets you see a traffic camera image in your area to get a true view of traffic and it may eventually offer this service for in-car devices.
A key selling point for this $2.99 iPhone app now available on iTunes, is that all images are less than a minute old.
The app is called TrafficJamCam and it is available for 17 major cities. Users can select a camera at a given intersection to get a visual view of the traffic.
The app is offered initially for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad but Visteon may eventually integrate it into vehicles, it said. “It’s not a huge technical leap to adapt this application from a phone to an in-vehicle infotainment system. The feedback we can glean from consumers will help us refine the system, and will enable an enhanced solution by the time automakers are ready to launch an in-vehicle application,” said Visteon senior manager for electronics innovation, T.C. Wingrove.
Visteon licenses the traffic cam data from TrafficLand and combines it with Internet-based maps. TrafficLand has a network of 8,000 traffic cameras that support live video for mobile devices.
Source: Visteon

The auto industry saw a nice lift in May for all major U.S. car makers except Toyota and light truck sales reached their peak level since December, said Automotive News.
The recovery of the U.S. auto industry from its long time sales low of 10.4 million vehicles last year is still slow, although it continues to build momentum despite new volatility in the stock market and ongoing housing problems.
Double digit gains for May were reported by Ford (up 22 percent), GM (up 17 percent) and Chrysler (up 33 percent) over the same month in 2009. Toyota sales increased only 7 percent despite incentives while Nissan sales gained 24 percent and American Honda sales grew 19 percent. Also Hyundai-Kia is continuing its growth spurt, with sales up 28 percent.
Industry predictions call for sales of 11.3 million to 11.8 million vehicles for 2010, increasing to over 13 million in 2011.
Source: Automotive News
Photo: 2010 Ford Mustang