Amazon’s Alexa assistant will offer directions, other help in new GM cars

If you’re still waiting for the Amazon Echo Auto device to bring Alexa into your car, new General Motors vehicles will deliver the digital assistant directly to your drive.

Starting next year, Alexa will be built into infotainment systems for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac drivers with 2018 and newer models. (Since newer GM systems are updatable, they will be compatible with the new Alexa integration.)

Instead of using the Echo Auto device, which has slowly rolled out for $49.99 throughout the year, drivers and passengers can wake up Alexa within the car’s center console. From within the car you can ask Alexa for directions to an address or a more vague “coffee shop.” This will bring up navigation tools in the car, like maps or audio directions.

Just like at home, you can ask Alexa to play music, podcasts, or audiobooks from your streaming services. But instead of playing on your home speaker, it’ll play in the car —duh. And you can still control smart home devices from the car, like lights or thermostats. Other common Alexa skills will be available as well, like checking the news and adding items to your online shopping cart (your Amazon shopping cart, of course).

You can also put Alexa to work for normal hands-free driving tools like calling your mom or boyfriend from the car through your Bluetooth-connected phone.

A few weeks ago, GM announced Google Maps will be the built-in navigation system for some of its cars. Now Alexa devotees who use the assistant at home can bring the voice tool into the vehicle. It’s similar to Google Assistant soon to be available in Volvo’s Polestar 2 electric vehicle.