KATHMANDU : Apple is making a fresh push into the automotive industry through a new partnership with Ford, nearly two years after cancelling its electric vehicle project, according to FT.
Ford will become the first automaker to use Apple’s new MapKit for Automotive SDK. The software will be integrated into the dashboards of Ford’s upcoming electric vehicle platform. It will also provide mapping data for the company’s BlueCruise hands-free driving system.
Unlike Apple CarPlay, which mainly mirrors smartphone functions on a vehicle’s display, the new MapKit platform is designed to integrate more deeply with a vehicle’s software. It allows automakers to build navigation and driving-related features directly into their infotainment systems.
Apple ended its long-running Project Titan electric vehicle program in 2024 after spending more than a decade developing EV and autonomous driving technologies.
Apple’s Senior Vice President Eddy Cue said the new platform will bring Apple Maps closer to drivers’ everyday experience. Ford CEO Jim Farley described the partnership as one of the company’s most important announcements and said Apple Maps would help deliver a more intuitive driving experience.
The partnership also highlights the growing importance of high-quality digital mapping in modern vehicles. Detailed road data is becoming increasingly important for advanced driver assistance systems and future autonomous driving technologies.
The deal also comes as US regulations restricting the use of Chinese connected-car software begin taking effect for 2027 model-year vehicles.
