Phones, televisions, tablets… and cars? Electronics giant LG has confirmed it’s planning to take on Google with an in-car operating system that will feature on new Genesis luxury cars.
Dubbed webOS for Automotive, the new LG operating system will feature on upcoming Genesis models.
It won’t form the base of the car’s entire technology suite like Google’s Android Automotive, however.
Instead, it’ll be a version of the webOS software that features on LG televisions allowing passengers to “comfortably enjoy the variety of content available on TVs at home within their vehicle”.
“It provides mobility experiences that bring more value to life on the road by extending their living space to their vehicles.”
webOS is the base upon which apps such as Netflix, YouTube, and Kayo can be installed on LG televisions, suggesting passengers in Genesis cars will be able to stream content on the move.
LG says it’s sold more than 200 million smart televisions featuring webOS since its introduction. This is the first time it’s been introduced to a car, however.
In-car technology and streaming has become a new battleground for technology giants hungry for data and eyeballs.
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Android Automotive in Volvo cars
Apple offers CarPlay, which is driven by a user’s phone and sits alongside carmakers’ native infotainment software; the Google equivalent is Android Auto.
Google goes a step further by offering Android Automotive, which is a set of building blocks which carmakers can use to develop all of their in-car technology, using a similar toolkit to the one provided to phone and tablet developers.
Android Automotive has been adopted by Polestar and Volvo, BMW, Renault, Stellantis, and Ford, although each system looks and feels different to the end user.
