Seat brings Amazon Alexa into its cars
Amazon’s popular assistant has started making its way into the Spanish firm’s cars via its Android Media Control app
Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant is beginning to make way into cars, and Seat is the first manufacturer in the UK to invite the tech in.
Rolling out on a selection model year 2019 vehicles from the Spanish firm, Alexa is accessible via the Seat Media Control with Amazon Alex app available on Android devices.
Owners of a new Leon or Ateca fitted with navigation will then be able to link their phone to the car and use the voice assistant for a number of functions — including managing schedules, changing music, controlling the navigation and even get information about points of interest. Alexa can be called upon using the voice control button mounted on the steering wheel.
Tech-giant Amazon first introduced Alex in 2014 via its Echo range of home devices. It’s since become a household name in voice assistants, alongside Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri.
When utilised at home, it can be used to control temperatures, lighting and a range of other electronic devices — meaning there’s the potential for you to have your house all lit up and warm via your car, ready for when you walk through the front door.
Across the globe, a number of manufacturers already utilise Alexa in its vehicles. BMW began introducing the tech in the USA for both its own offerings and for the Mini sub-brand, while Seat has already done so across Europe since late 2017.
Toyota, Volkswagen and Skoda also all have plans to bring Alexa to its cars — although none of these has yet introduced the tech to the UK market.
