General Motors partners with Google for Android-powered cars?

Not one day after General Motors said they'd found a mysterious technology partner to help extend the Chevy Volt's futuristic OnStar functionality do anonymous sources step in (as usual) to ruin the surprise. Though we thought RIM made a fine contender, Motor Trend says it's actually Google that'll reportedly "sell its Android operating system for in-car use." Last we heard, Google wasn't in the business of selling Android, but that wouldn't stop GM from using the open-source OS anyhow -- in fact, we already knew Android cars were on the way, and one's already in production. Let's just hope GM doesn't take the integration too far: we fear the day will come when our "engine" app spontaneously decides to force close.

[stoney1973 Posted May 12th 2010 10:15AM]

So......If you crash your Android car, and take it to the bodyshop.......does that mean you have used a nandroid backup?

[aseaofflames Posted May 12th 2010 2:16PM]

@stoney1973 No because rooting will void your cars warrenty. Just resync it to the cloud :) Everything you bought you'll be able to redownload free (free transmission downloads!)

[hmmwv Posted May 12th 2010 10:15AM]

This is a no brainer, GM's partner SAIC is already powering its Roewe 350's infotainment system with Android. I'm glad to see a major automaker moving toward a open source, widely compatible operating system.

[Shark Tek Posted May 12th 2010 10:16AM]

Wohoo I can watch porn on the car when I get my new Volt !!!!

[mattisdada Posted May 12th 2010 10:18AM]

First google takes over search
Then maps
Then email
Then mobiles
Then desktops
Now cars!

Whats next google!? World!? Oh right, you have that already!

[D4rKlar Posted May 12th 2010 10:44AM]

@mattisdada Don't forget power....

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/19/google_energy_ok/

(Note: At this stage trading only)

[D4rKlar Posted May 12th 2010 10:46AM]

@mattisdada

Don't forget power, although only trading at the moment....

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/19/google_energy_ok/

[D4rKlar Posted May 12th 2010 10:48AM]

@D4rKlar Soz for the double post.

[mattisdada Posted May 12th 2010 10:56AM]

@D4rKlar
And the triple post are you sorry for also?

I was being quite vague. I could have also gotten into Internet, Advertising(technically there biggest asset), every single individual Android App, Office(google docs), Time Management(calender), Social Networking (bokurt, buzz), Instant Messaging(gtalk), i could go on forever probably.... (when i run out of stuff that they have done, they would have done it by now :P)

They are the type of company that likes to stick there finger in every pie, and ruin it for all competitors.....

[Plazmic Flame Posted May 12th 2010 6:59PM]

@mattisdada

Don't forget health...

www.google.com/health

[soviet4ever Posted May 12th 2010 10:19AM]

i think some early post shows that us military supports android too, more more i think Google and government are big friends.

[soviet4ever Posted May 12th 2010 10:20AM]

common nokia give me good n900 so i can ditch n1

[soviet4ever Posted May 12th 2010 10:21AM]

i meant n900 update

[DoctarPeppar Posted May 12th 2010 10:22AM]

Woah, gimme nao!

[Console fanboy Posted May 12th 2010 10:23AM]

Google = skynet

[Marko Posted May 12th 2010 10:25AM]

Putting this in a Toyota would be a killer... Literarly!

[Plazmic Flame Posted May 12th 2010 7:00PM]

@Marko

Putting anything into that stomach of your would be killer....seriously... =/

[16915V Posted May 12th 2010 10:26AM]

How perfect, Big Brother and Big Brother in our cars. We all know Google spies on us all when we're on the web. We also know the government would love to spy on us in our cars, ie; "black boxes". So who better to partner with than Google?

[stabbytheicepic Posted May 12th 2010 10:29AM]

@16915V who cares

[stabbytheicepic Posted May 12th 2010 10:28AM]

android 3.0 will feature a self install program that will allow android to install itself on any nearby technology.

[MattsZ Posted May 12th 2010 10:35AM]

Upranked into oblivion

[JonnyB Posted May 12th 2010 10:39AM]

@stabbytheicepic
Rofl!!!! May God be with us!!

[SaggyBalls Posted May 12th 2010 10:53AM]

I wonder if Iron Man's suit runs a highly modified Android?

[ToniCipriani Posted May 12th 2010 10:56AM]

I thought in the other post there was a picture of a BlackBerry Storm with the Volt app?

[Capper Posted May 12th 2010 11:17AM]

This would of been good before April 8th.

[lostincake Posted May 12th 2010 11:18AM]

Good thing they went with Android, as opposed to say the iPhone or WinMo OS. At least I know I can steer my car while in the music app...

[Hiprocksoul Posted May 12th 2010 11:29AM]

I would rather see Android team up with a quality car manufacturer.

Hyundai/Android would be sweet.

[iucidium Posted May 12th 2010 11:35AM]

Lol, a lot of paranoid/guilty people. 'Google spy on us' well easy, don't do dodgy stuff and you won't be scared of being spied on ;)

[shacker Posted May 12th 2010 12:37PM]

@iucidium
or don't use Google... :-)

[ECH Posted May 12th 2010 11:41AM]

Hey Google...

I wanna run on android too!

How do I get that little green bastard in between my ears?

[fourthletter Posted May 12th 2010 11:45AM]

The only Android app that has ever force closed on my Hero was the Engadget app; you cheeky monkeys.

[s4t1sfy Posted May 12th 2010 11:52AM]

Force Close the doors, windows, etc~

[shacker Posted May 12th 2010 12:27PM]

Apple hasn't joined the fray because no manufacturer has created a car that runs solely on the driver's sense of self-satisfaction.

[cannoli Posted May 12th 2010 1:24PM]

@shacker

Simpsons did it.

[kjones555 Posted May 12th 2010 2:28PM]

If they do their data with verizon, they can use the slogan "Droid Does Drive"

[coolblue830 Posted May 12th 2010 2:57PM]

"we fear the day will come when our "engine" app spontaneously decides to force close."

Then let's pray Apple doesn't partner up with any car manufacturers.

[uzerzero Posted May 12th 2010 3:34PM]

From the Associated Press wire -

Google has recently announced its plan to perform a hostile takeover of General Motors, changing the company's name to Google Motors, effective as of July 17, 2010. A Google spokesperson said that the best thing about this business venture is that "there will be no need to change the GM logo on the front grills of current and near future models" but went on to say that "models in the distant future may use the Catul font and alternate colors."

[tytania8 Posted May 12th 2010 4:13PM]

Skynet Begins May 12th 2010.. the end

[(Unverified) Posted May 12th 2010 4:24PM]

Android voice commands:

Me: "Start engine"

Hal: "I am sorry Dave, but I cannot do that"

Oh yeah.....

[christexaport Posted May 12th 2010 4:25PM]

Oh no, GM. How can the biggest transportation provider in history partner with Google and its mostly US focused map solution over Symbian or MeeGo and Nokia, who has a global mapping solution and cross platform compatibility, plus a planned automotive UI in the works.

I guess BMW will take the lead in this space...

[(Unverified) Posted May 12th 2010 5:24PM]

I would like Nissan to also use Android in it's Leaf EV model, but I'm not willing to choose GM Volt just to have Android, because I prefer the simplicity of a pure EV.
Maybe we can use custom Android ROM's in Leaf :P
This is the begining of a great real time traffic service built in the car, and if it's backed by Google, I'm sure it's going to be the best and keep updated with latest bells and wistles in the tech world ;)

[swecomment Posted May 13th 2010 1:03AM]

@(Unverified) Very true. Google needs to partner up with some of the better car manufacturers out there..I rate Ford any day better than GM.

[scuckinghunter Posted May 12th 2010 5:25PM]

I would be pissed if my car force closed on me while i was driving hahahahaha

[JohnnyDiggMe Posted May 12th 2010 10:27PM]

Nobody ruined the surprise, idiots.

After I read the article yesterday, it took 5 minutes to find confirmed news that it was Google.

[Shooter McGavin Posted May 12th 2010 10:30PM]

Droid does bitches.

[swecomment Posted May 13th 2010 1:01AM]

Its a bit weird when people say "oh no this new technology is bad for me...for the world". No one can stop these. If it is as bad as a dynamite or a nuke bomb we never could stop those...

If google doesnt try (or apple or microsoft) then some other company would try and bring these technologies out. Onstar could have gone on world domination (if it was aquired or not by some one else on the way).. endless possibilities. These are innovations of the human brain and it doesnt matter where those innovative brains are employed.

[big nazty Posted May 13th 2010 2:20AM]

where are the apple fan boys at now? i dont see iphone os getting in on this lol oh wait it cant multi task so you cant call your mom so you can get the address to put into your gps at the same time