Google to develop Android-based entertainment system for Audi

Google and Audi have planned to announce at CES next month that they're working on an in-car entertainment system based on Android, The Wall Street Journal reported citing sources.

According to the report, the companies planned to collaborate with chip maker Nvidia and other partners to establish Android as an important technology for future vehicles. The system would allow people to access music, navigation, apps and services within their cars.

The report comes following Android trying for a while to work with car makers and running into fierce resistance, with many auto makers keen on protecting and branding ownership of their in-car systems.

According to Matt Marshall of Venture Beats, Johann Jungwirth, president & CEO of Mercedes-Benz R&D in the US, joined him on stage at VentureBeat's Mobile Summit event to talk about his company's plans for an Android-based system that would be a standout among other car companies' systems.

But nothing had been heard from the company since then, rather on the contrary, Mercedes appeared to have joined the iOS camp, along with Chevrolet, Ferrari, Opel, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Infiniti, Honda, Volvo, Acura, Hyundai, Kia and Jaguar, all of which intended to use iOS, as per Apple's claims.

Meanwhile, according to the Journal's sources  Android would power an in-car entertainment system for the automaker, which would run on hardware built directly into the car rather than the user's smartphone.

Audi had already announced LTE for select models, and according to a recent report from EE Times, Google had the automotive play squarely in its sights since Apple's announcement of iOS in the car initiative supported by BMW, Daimler and others.