Hyundai has been pretty quick to take advantage of Google features over the years. The 2015 Hyundai Sonata was the first car with Android Auto at launch, for example. At CES 2017, the company has announced that users of Hyundai's Blue Link service can now use Google Home to issue commands to their cars.
Blue Link is the connected car service Hyundai uses to manage the smart features in its vehicles. It costs $100 per year, and grants remote access to your car via the web and the Blue Link app. Thus, the Assistant commands won't be completely new features. Rather, they're one more way to communicate with your car. The Blue Link app doesn't have the best reputation, so maybe you want to just use voice commands anyway.
Hyundai will support commands like "start my car" and "lock the doors" via Google Home. You can even look up directions and send them to the car by voice. It's unclear if Google will be giving Hyundai a prime spot in Home that doesn't require a "talk to" command, but it's not showing up in the list of services yet.
PRESS RELEASE
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Jan. 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In an integration highlighting the increasing connection between cars and the home, Hyundai is demonstrating compatibility with the company's Blue Link Agent for the Google Assistant. The integration, which Hyundai will be demonstrating at Pepcom's Digital Experience prior to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES®) on January 4, allows control of various functions of a Hyundai vehicle with simple voice commands. These commands include "Ok Google, Tell Blue Link to start my Santa Fe and set the temperature to 72 degrees", "Ok Google, Tell Blue Link to send the address of the Mandarin Oriental, in Las Vegas to my Sonata", and "Ok Google, ask Blue Link to lock my car".
"Our customers are finding smart home integrations like the one we are showcasing with Google Home to be very useful and convenient," said Manish Mehrotra, director, digital business planning and connected operations, Hyundai Motor America. "We will continue to add layers of convenience to the Blue Link connected car system and our cars, making features like remote EV charge management, remote locking, temperature and remote start easier than ever while sitting on the couch and saying 'Ok Google'."
Google Home is a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant that can provide real-time answers, activate streaming music services, smart home devices, and now, cars.
Blue Link brings seamless connectivity directly into Hyundai cars with technology like Remote Start with Climate Control, Destination Search powered by Google®, Remote Door Lock/Unlock, Car Finder, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, and Stolen Vehicle Recovery. Blue Link services can be easily accessed from the buttons on the rearview mirror and center stack, the Web or via the Blue Link owners' smartphone app. In addition to the Action on Google Assistant, some of these features can also be controlled via the latest Android Wear™ and Apple Watch™ smartwatch offerings.
How It Works To send commands to the Hyundai Vehicles via the Google Assistant on Google Home, engineers developed a way to link a customer's Blue Link Account with the Google Assistant voice activated services. Once a customer has successfully linked his or her account, Remote Service commands will only be sent to Hyundai vehicles after the Google Assistant prompts owners for their Blue Link Personal Identification Number (PIN).
Examples of Exchanges between Google Home and Hyundai Blue Link
Example User Statement to Google
Assistant |
Example Google Assistant's
Response to User |
"Ok Google, Find me a great steakhouse in Las Vegas." |
"The address I found for a great steak house in Las Vegas is SW Steak House at 3131 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109. Do you wish to send it to your Sonata?" |
"Ok Google, tell Blue Link to send the address to my Santa Fe." |
"The destination has been sent." |
|
|
"Ok Google, what is the weather like today?" |
"Today's forecast for Ann Arbor is 38 degrees with rain and snow." |
"Ok Google, ask Blue Link to Start my Tucson and set the temperature to 75 degrees." |
"To remote start and set climate control of your Tucson please say your Blue Link PIN." |
"9115." |
"Your request to remote start and set climate control of your Tucson has been sent." |
|
|
"Ok Google, Tell Blue Link to start charging my IONIQ" |
"Please say your Blue Link PIN." |
"1978." |
"Your request has been sent. Your IONIQ is now charging. |
Blue Link Action on Google Home demonstration features include:
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Sending a destination to the car's navigation system
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Remote horn/lights
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Start and stop charging of Hyundai plug-in vehicles
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Remote Start with Climate Control
Hyundai will have more features before launching this Action on Google Home into production.