Apple to play iPod on Ford, General Motors and Mazda vehicles

Our Corporate Bureau
05 August 2006

Mumbai: Apple has teamed up with Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Mazda to deliver seamless iPod integration across the majority of their brands and models, which will offer iPod music through their car's stereo system. With the addition of these models, more than 70 per cent of 2007-model US automobiles will have iPod connectivity.

The affordable, all-new iPod adapter, called 'Personal Audio Link' will sell at GM dealerships for less than $160, excluding installation charges. It will be introduced in October on the 2006 and 2007 model year Chevrolet HHRs. Over the next year, more GM vehicles are scheduled to feature the iPod adapter. GM expects to make the device available on all of its 56 vehicle models.

"We're delighted that Ford, General Motors and Mazda will support iPod connectivity in nearly all of their new models," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of worldwide iPod product marketing, adding, "Now more than 70 per cent of 2007-model US automobiles will offer iPod integration, with General Motors alone making it available on all 56 of its models, representing millions of cars and trucks."

While Ford and General Motors will feature iPod integration on a majority of their 2007 models in the US, beginning later this year, Mazda's entire global 2007 lineup of cars and SUVs will offer iPod connectivity.

The iPod connectivity will allow drivers to use their car's multifunction controls to select their music using artist, album, playlist or shuffle songs, as well as to easily skip between tracks and playlists.

With over 58 million iPods sold, it is the world's most popular digital music player and the iTunes Music Store is the number one online music store with over a billion songs purchased and downloaded worldwide.