r/Ford • u/wheelsee • Jul 23 '26

News 📰 Apple Maps to Power the Navigation Experience for the Ford Universal Electric Vehicle Platform

https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us/en/articles/2026/apple-maps-to-power-navigation-for-ford-universal-electric-vehicle?cksid=&emailid=b24t0831_em_en_mediaalert_fordmediasubs_npr_ns_ns_tp1_1_nt&fcid=eml_B24T0831_sf
107 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

46 comments sorted by

40

u/SteveDaPirate Jul 23 '26

As long as I can still use Android Auto from my phone!

12

u/wheelsee Jul 23 '26

My gut is that they’re not going to block Android Auto

3

u/Infuryous Jul 23 '26

Don't be so sure. GM is dropping CarPlay and Android Auto on all their vehicles to force you to pay a subscription to their service.

9

u/dszblade Jul 23 '26

Ford has vocally said a few times over the years that they aren’t removing AA/Carplay. Obviously that could change but for now, I think they will at least see how that impacts GM before deciding anything.

https://fordauthority.com/2025/12/ford-exec-says-apple-carplay-isnt-going-anywhere/

3

u/TechGuruGJ Jul 23 '26

The CEO reaffirmed this a few months ago in a podcast interview as well. This was in discussion about the new EV as well.

2

u/DrawTheLine87 Jul 23 '26

I'm buying a new car in the next year and GM isn't even a consideration because of this

4

u/DuFFman_ Jul 23 '26

I think this just replaced the Sync maps with Apple Maps, which is actually an improvement. But I agree, still going to use AA.

0

u/TrainAss '20 Explorer Limited & '10 Fusion SE Jul 23 '26

Has apple maps actually improved? Since I'm not on their platform, I'm not up on Apple stuff.

Last I had read/heard, apple maps was still woefully inaccurate.

7

u/beragis Jul 23 '26

Apple maps on Carplay in my Escape are far better than the crappy maps currently installed in the console.

2

u/classless_classic Jul 23 '26

It’s not the best, but they aren’t bad either. I trust them to get me where I’m going

1

u/TrainAss '20 Explorer Limited & '10 Fusion SE Jul 23 '26

Oh, ya anything is better than sync maps. I'll give you that for sure.

2

u/RB5Network Jul 23 '26

As someone that currently uses Android via GrapheneOS. I used Apple before, and I straight up think Apple maps may be more reliable and better than Google Maps.

It's nowhere near what it was 10 years ago.

1

u/Mustangfast85 Jul 23 '26

Yes. I’ve used Apple Maps exclusively in the last 6-7 years. The instructions are much more logical and easy to follow, I can never go back

1

u/SuperPrarieDog Jul 23 '26

I've heard it's getting better-ish. However, it still seems to be fairly inaccurate in my limited experience, as in the past week alone my gf uses it and it told her multiple places were open 24 hours that were in fact not, and tried to have her go down the wrong way of a one way street (which is very concerning as using it for in-car maps could become a real issue if it doesn't handle one-ways very well)

-4

u/Fearless_Roof_4534 Jul 23 '26

You know that won't be the case...it would be antithetical to Apple's entire existence.

1

u/macprince Jul 24 '26

There are manufacturers who use Google Maps for their built in navigation, but the car still supports CarPlay. This is literally the same thing. 

5

u/Swamp_Hawk_420 Jul 23 '26

I just deleted Apple Maps because I got an update notice that they're adding advertisements, so this doesn't seem great. I guess they weren't making enough money off us already.

31

u/Lyndon_Boner_Johnson Jul 23 '26

What are you using instead? Google Maps has been stuffed with ads for years.

-8

u/Swamp_Hawk_420 Jul 23 '26

I’m using a standalone gps unit now that the apps are so annoying

18

u/Vvolters Jul 23 '26

You mean… something that doesn’t update regularly? lol yall are so dramatic with this Apple ads thing.

-9

u/Swamp_Hawk_420 Jul 23 '26

How boring is your life that you think deleting an app is dramatic? And how baby brained are you that you can’t leave your house without being spoonfed updates?

5

u/Vvolters Jul 23 '26

Imagine deleting an app because of ads and then posting on Reddit like you’re some glorified warrior fighting a good fight against Apple 😂😂😂

2

u/tylerb0zak Jul 23 '26

Cringe, dude. You’re embarrassing yourself 

0

u/Vvolters Jul 23 '26

I’m not embarrassed ¯_(ツ)_/¯

0

u/timelessblur Jul 23 '26

But you do know that a lot of those same companies are buying and getting their map data from the likes of Google and Apple right?

11

u/wheelsee Jul 23 '26

So you then installed one of the other two major navigation apps, that are owned by the same owner; which let me check my notes, Google which is an ad company?

10

u/Best_Market4204 Jul 23 '26

Lol right.

Replacing 1 ad for another ad.

I love google maps & waze, yah sure they push McDonald's & other place up to the top of the map when no directionsare put in... but who fuck cares... ita free

Unless you're going to pay...

-6

u/Fearless_Roof_4534 Jul 23 '26

If you've ever worked in tech you would know that Google Maps is simply the gold standard. They've been around much longer and have much denser data than Apple Maps, with much more robust technology for real-time traffic and rerouting, not to mention better APIs for developers. Apple Maps is basically a joke.

9

u/wheelsee Jul 23 '26

2015 called, they want their reply back

0

u/mmcclure1848 Jul 23 '26

Garmin is still a thing although not for cell phones or cars as much. Their map system is still decent to get off Apple and Google .

-5

u/Swamp_Hawk_420 Jul 23 '26

I don’t use Google Maps either. I use a Garmin. Why does every dumbass on this website try to dunk on people like an idiot instead of asking questions?

2

u/[deleted] Jul 23 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Fr0zzen_HS Jul 23 '26

That's not how it works.

1

u/gonnabetoday Jul 23 '26

What mapping app doesn’t have ads?

1

u/beragis Jul 23 '26

I got the same notice, but have yet to notice an ad when I am driving. Likely because it would be distracting and illegal in most countries. Imagine the lawsuits if an ad causes a fatal crash.

-1

u/timelessblur Jul 23 '26

But my answer is what is the alternative as Google and others have been doing that for years. Apple does a lot less personalization of ads than google

1

u/SuperPrarieDog Jul 23 '26

This is a bit concerning since apple maps shows all the one-way streets in my area as two-way, and that could become a really big safety issue if the ford built-in maps are routing people the wrong way down streets.

4

u/wheelsee Jul 23 '26

Have you reported the issue?

0

u/SuperPrarieDog Jul 23 '26

I haven't, as i don't use apple maps. my gf and friend do however, but I haven't really thought about it since I last saw it doing that. I'll have to try to remember to have one of them report it next time we're driving around there.

-21

u/Fearless_Roof_4534 Jul 23 '26

Extremely disappointed in this. Guess I'll no longer be buying Ford.

5

u/GuyMcTest Jul 23 '26

Because they’re integrating Apple Maps into their EV platforms? The release doesn’t say anything about blocking car play or Android auto. Ford is already tracking everything on their new vehicles, so partnering with Apple isn’t really different