Hyundai’s new upscale Genesis sub-brand has become the first automaker to develop a “skill” for Amazon’s Alexa service, which will allow owners to speak certain commands to, say, an Amazon Echo that will then be pushed to their vehicles.
The system is part of the new Genesis Connected Services suite and it works on devices like the Echo, Dot, and Tap. And if you happen to buy a new Genesis G90, Amazon will throw in a gift card to allow you to buy an Echo.
Owners can simply speak to their Amazon Alexa device. Commands like “Alexa, tell Genesis to lock my car” or “Alexa, tell Genesis to start my car at 70 degrees” will be sent directly to a G80 or G90. Similarly, inside their cars, owners will be able to talk to Amazon-connected devices inside their home.
The partnership goes live today. Interested owners need to enable the Genesis “skill” in their Alexa app, and from there the system will walk them through just how to make the system functional.
While the connectivity offered today is hardly ground-breaking, this partnership offers a huge opportunity for further growth; imagine being able to control any aspect of your home or your car while you’re not near either one, for instance.
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