Auto-maker Ford is acquiring Livio, a Ferndale, Mich.-based software development startup. Livio builds products and software tools to support smartphone/car connectivity and builds in-car connectivity solutions.
Livio, co-founded by Sigal and Massimo Baldini, will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Global Technologies, which manages all aspects of intellectual property for Ford. Livio will function as a separate department within Ford Electrical/Electronic Systems Engineering, while integrated into Ford’s overall connectivity operations. The deal gives Ford access to a broad group of application developers, while enabling Livio to maintain its independent and entrepreneurial approach, says Ford.
Paul Mascarenas (Chief technical officer and vice president, Research and Innovation, Ford): Ford intends to continue to lead the next generation of in-car connectivity with technology advancements that give consumers more options to access their devices on the go.
Ford and Livio are joining forces amid explosive growth in the connected car market. Last year, more than 1.9 million vehicles were delivered with smartphone integration solutions, that number is expected to reach 21 million vehicles by 2018, according to a June report from London-based GSMA, which represents the global mobile industry, and data from SBD, a London automotive technology consulting firm.
Ford previously contributed Smart Device Link, the open source version of AppLink, to the GENIVI Alliance for use by app developers.
[Image courtesy: Ford]