Automakers are continually raising the bar concerning in-car connectivity and entertainment. The latest example will be available in the all-new 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, the first production vehicles to offer Amazon Fire TV for Auto when they go on sale in the summer of 2021.
Amazon Fire TV for Auto is an extension of the widely-used home-based media player that allows streaming from Prime, Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube, among other content sources.
In a home environment, Fire TV plugs into the HDMI port of any television to give it smart TV capabilities. Now, for the first time, Fire TV comes as a built-in function of a vehicle's infotainment system to provide this same level of media accessibility.
Amazon announced at the CES show earlier this year that it was working with Jeep's parent company, Stellantis, to use this technology to enhance the in-car experience. The partnership's premise was to make it possible for someone to seamlessly enjoy the same programming in their car as they do in their home.
Fire TV for Auto integrates with a vehicle's infotainment system, allowing passengers instant access to shows, movies, games, and connectivity features such as Amazon's voice-controlled virtual assistant, Alexa.
You'll need to sync the technology to an existing Amazon account, and then you can stream content to the vehicle while you're traveling. You can even pause programming in the home and resume watching once everyone is inside the car.
Fire TV for Auto also includes a multi-functional remote to take command of the in-car streaming experience. The remote grants access to Alexa, which can help search out specific content and quickly play it on demand.
Depending on the implementation, users can also download content in advance of a trip, which reduces data use and provides uninterrupted entertainment in regions with limited wireless service.
The first installation of Fire TV for Auto pairs with Jeep's latest infotainment platform, Uconnect 5. It will be available in the new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer full-size SUVs, bundled with other connected services that require a subscription. The Fire TV for Auto release date is in the fall of 2021.
In the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, all occupants except for the driver can enjoy Fire TV for Auto while the vehicle is moving. Rear-seat passengers access Fire TV on their available individual seatback-mounted high-definition screens, while the front passenger can watch on a dashboard-mounted display.
The front passenger's screen is invisible to the driver thanks to a special privacy filter that prevents viewing the content from an angle. However, when the Jeep is stopped and in park, the driver can join the front passenger to view a movie or a show on the main Uconnect 5 screen.
The technology's multi-function remote also serves as a direct link to the Uconnect 5 system for control of vehicle features, including the climate control, maps, Bluetooth, and a "Do Not Disturb" mode to suppress phone notifications, among other commands.
In-car technology continues to grow in importance as vehicles become hubs for connectivity and entertainment. Fire TV for Auto leverages advanced infotainment architecture to deliver more content-rich media for drivers and passengers. As the demand for this kind of personalization rises, expect more vehicles across the auto industry to offer this type of onboard entertainment.
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