The BMW Connected personal digital mobility assistant will be available via an Alexa skill on all Alexa-enabled devices when the service is available in the U.K and Germany. BMW is the first car maker to announce integration with Alexa in the U.K. and Germany, enabling vehicle functions to be operated from users’ homes by voice. BMW Connected will therefore be integrated into users’ digital lives through another new touchpoint alongside the iPhone, Apple Watch, and Android smartphones and smartwatches. As previously announced, the mobility assistant skill from BMW will be available in the U.S. on Alexa-enabled devices later this September.
The first version of BMW Connected, available in the U.S. since March 2016 and in Europe since August, focuses primarily on journey management and remote services. In late September, BMW Connected will literally be coming home. Through its integration with Alexa, it will be possible to use voice commands to check the vehicle’s battery charge and fuel level, for example, as well as lock the vehicle remotely. Further, the Alexa integration will allow users to learn about their next scheduled trip, find out what time to leave, and send the destination to their BMW.
The activation word “Alexa,” followed by the invocation name “BMW,” will allow users to access the relevant functions, e.g. “Alexa, ask BMW when I should leave for my next appointment.” The vision of BMW Connected integrated with Alexa was revealed at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. At the end of September the vision will become a reality, when users in the U.S. will be able to access BMW Connected through this popular service. Customers in the U.K can access the BMW skill in the coming weeks and customers in Germany that are part of the initial invitation-only phase will follow next month.
