Detroit-based automaker General Motors Co. today launched a new infotainment software development kit that allows software developers worldwide to create and test in-vehicle applications for the company’s infotainment systems.
“We want to let developers know that we are open for business,” says Ed Wrenbeck, director of application ecosystem and development for GM. “Our customers want technology to safely allow them or their passengers to stay connected to the outside world no matter where they go. The NGI SDK allows developers to get creative and help us build apps that will create a safer, smarter and more efficient in-vehicle experience for customers.”
With NGI SDK, apps can be built to run directly on a vehicle using HTML5 and Java Script. The development kit includes the native Application Program Interfaces that allow developers access to nearly 400 vehicle data points — more than any other automaker. The NGI SDK mimics real vehicle data, allowing developers outside GM to build apps without making frequent trips to Detroit to conduct testing on infotainment modules.
Then data points include: instrument panel measurements, drive information, such as presence of passengers or if the windows are open or closed, vehicle features like radio or the backup camera, performance and maintenance, including oil life and tire pressure, and lights and indicators such as a burnt-out bulb or low washer fluid.
GM has nearly 12 million connected vehicles on the road today, the largest fleet of any automaker. From 2015 to 2016, GM has seen data usage by its customers increase nearly 200 percent, and mobile app use on its vehicles also hit a record high in 2016, with more than 225 million interactions.
