The app Waze will now be pre-installed in two vehicles of the diamond brand. Are manufacturers finally ready to adopt the most popular navigation system of recent years?
Since its launch in 2010, the Waze GPS guidance application, acquired by Google in 2013, has attracted millions of users around the world, and particularly in France: 17 million French people use it every month. A love honored by the addition of voice guidance in ch’ti, as well as with accents from the south of France last June. Renault intends to seal this idyll: the brand has announced the integration of Waze in some of its vehicles.
The Austral Hybrid and Megane E-Tech EV first
The Waze application is available on Android and iOS smartphones. If it is possible to distribute the constellation map of these tens of wazers on the screen of most vehicles via Android Auto, the pairing procedure is sometimes tedious and not always very ergonomic or practical. Thus, on a daily basis, many motorists simply use their smartphone with Waze as a GPS.
With its Austral Hybrid and Megane E-Tech EV, Renault will directly integrate Waze into the infotainment system. In other words, the drivers of these vehicles will be able to enjoy them right out of the garage, without prior installation.
The economy of an installation
Currently, the latest version of Renault’s multimedia system (Media Nav Evolution) supports Android Auto and CarPlay. It automatically offers certain applications, such as Google Maps. Users are, however, free to install additional apps, including Waze.
In short, as you will have understood, the purpose of this integration is to eliminate the inconveniences linked to the use of a smartphone or some preliminary manipulations. Nevertheless, let’s salute the effort of Renault, the first manufacturer to get up to speed.
Jérôme Seror, Director of Digital Customers at Renault, says: “ Renault is the first car manufacturer to offer Waze directly on the vehicle’s multimedia screen, without activating the smartphone. We know that many Waze users will appreciate this new feature when driving the New Austral and electric Renault Megane E-Tech, as part of our ongoing commitment to providing our customers with an intuitive, immersive and connected driving experience. »
Source : Google
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