Getting Alexa in your car is easier than you think. The market of virtual voice assistants for cars is growing. Just in the US the total in-car voice assistant users is almost 130 million with 83.8 million active monthly. This total reflects a 13.7% rise in users over the past 15 months and is more than 45% higher than the number of smart speaker device owners according to a new report by Voicebot.ai in collaboration with research sponsor Cerence.
Naturally, car manufactures see this trend as an opportunity to keep developing in-car voice assistants but don’t worry if you don’t have one of those cars. There are several ways to connect Alexa with your car and here you will find some.
As we know Alexa has found herself in a lot of places from lights to ovens but finally is appearing in the place where a handsfree assistant makes more sense, your car ! And I must admit that the advantages of it are fantastic!
“Voice in the home is useful but unessential, but in the car, with an increasing amount of distractions, buttons, and obstacles to navigate, it’s critical.” says Sanjay Dhawan, CEO of Cerence.
- Locking your door if you forgot to do it;
- Turn off all the lights if you left in a hurry;
- Turning the heating up when you are driving home on a cold day;
- Stream music;
- Build a shopping list. Set a reminder;
- Ask for the weather/traffic or use third-party skills;
- Keep traveling companions entertained with trivia and interactive games.
The big questions here is: How?
There are several options in the market, one of those is Garmin DriveSmart™ 65.
This Premium Navigator allows you to focus on the drive and make the most of you time behind the wheel. Play music, check news, check your calendar, create tasks, make calls, view TripAdvisor traveller ratings along your route or near your destination. And the cherry on top, is the smart home control, all from your car and with a simple voice command.
For the Alexa service to work you will need to download the Garmin Speak app and connect your device to your phone using Bluetooth.
The second option is Roav VIVA by Anker. The Roav VIVA is an Alexa-Enabled 2 port USB car charger for In-Car Navigation with hands free calling. The Roav Viva connects to your phone via an app using Bluetooth and it is a more affordable option.
The third and easiest option is an Echo Auto. Basically, it is an Echo Dot but for your car. It gives you hands-free access to all the Alexa skills you love and stream the sound through your car’s speakers.
According to the Amazon website, Echo Auto connects to Alexa through your phone’s Alexa app and plays through your car’s speakers via auxiliary input or your smartphone’s Bluetooth connection.
Each time you start your car make sure your phone’s volume is up and set your car stereo to the correct input. Then say “Alexa”—wait for the chime—and ask.
So, now it doesn’t matter where you are, you could have control over your Smart Home!
Let me know in the comments below: Have you tried to connect Alexa with your car? What are the pro and cons of having a digital assistant?
Did you find this interesting? Read more content related to smart home technology here and stay in tuned every Friday for more!
Very cool, I’m thinking about getting one of these for my car! There’s a lot of new cars with native Alexa capabilities – upcoming FCA vehicles (by the Jeep, RAM, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo brands) will be able to do a whole lot via voice command. You can even say “Alexa, I’m cold,” and the car will increase the cabin temperature accordingly. Pretty awesome stuff!
Thank you Olivier for your comment! Indeed is pretty cool to add Alexa to our cars, it is so useful! I can’t wait to try one of those commands!
Thanks Isa for that interesting information. I was wondering if I tell Alexa in my car to set an alarm for a time when I will be at home, will my Alexa at home sound the alarm?
Thank you!!