Ford Motor Co is working with BlackBerry to expand the carmaker’s use of its QNX secure operating system, as Ford develops increasingly automated vehicles. This deal with Ford is the first BlackBerry has done directly with a major automaker, though it currently sells its technology to auto industry suppliers. BlackBerry is hoping the new deal will expand use of BlackBerry’s software in Ford vehicles as the two companies identify other systems where it might be used.
BlackBerry is betting its future on expanding sales of software products, including to automakers and other manufacturers, after largely ceding the smartphone market to rivals including Apple Inc., Alphabet’s Google and Samsung Electronics Co.
Panasonic Automotive currently uses QNX software in the Sync 3 infotainment console that it supplies to Ford.
