Ford is transitioning from Google Maps to Apple Maps for its upcoming electric vehicles.

      Ford will incorporate Apple Maps into its upcoming Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform, beginning with a $30,000 electric pickup set to launch in 2027. This move will replace the Google-based software the company has been using since 2023. As stated in a joint announcement from both companies on Wednesday, Ford will utilize Apple’s new MapKit for Automotive SDK for this integration. Furthermore, data from Apple’s road-level mapping will be leveraged in the development of Ford's next-generation BlueCruise hands-free driving system.

      This decision marks a significant shift for Ford, which had partnered with Google in 2021 to implement Android Automotive across millions of its vehicles, establishing itself as a prominent user of Google's in-car software. However, for its key new product line, Ford is now opting for Apple instead. CEO Jim Farley referred to the electric pickup as a vehicle that “redefines what advanced technology can be,” expressing pride in being one of the first to integrate Apple Maps directly into a vehicle.

      The integrated system will feature turn-by-turn navigation, natural language search, real-time traffic updates, and route planning specific to electric vehicles that includes charging station locations, estimated range, and battery preconditioning. The latter automatically adjusts the battery’s temperature before reaching a fast charger to reduce charging times significantly. Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, mentioned that the SDK allows car manufacturers to create a navigation interface that aligns with their own vehicle software aesthetics rather than merely replicating the Apple Maps app.

      In addition to navigation capabilities, Ford’s Latitude AI team plans to utilize Apple’s road-level data to enhance the overall experience of BlueCruise—facilitating a smoother transition from highway on-ramps to off-ramps. This integration will enable the hands-free driving system to better recognize highway interchanges, merges, and exits. While Google's Android Automotive platform has been gaining popularity throughout the industry, Ford selecting Apple for its flagship electric vehicles indicates that the competition in in-car software remains unresolved.

      The electric pickup being developed on Ford's UEV platform will be manufactured at the Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky and will utilize LFP batteries and megacasting to achieve the $30,000 price point. CarPlay will still be available in Ford vehicles alongside the native integration of Apple Maps. Ford has not clarified whether its current models equipped with Android Automotive will transition to Apple Maps or if this change will only apply to future UEV-based vehicles.