At the recent Commercial Vehicle Show what3words announced the upcoming launch of its new in-vehicle app, what3words for Auto, which will bring a precise, voice-enabled way to navigate directly through the car’s infotainment system. The app will allow drivers – from everyday motorists to those on the road for work – to reach exact destinations using just three words. Part of what3words’ Pro membership, this launch marks a major step towards putting the power of precise navigation directly into drivers’ hands.
Built for Android Automotive OS (AAOS), the what3words for Auto app will be available via Android Auto, CarPlay and select in-car app stores from summer 2026 onwards. This means millions more drivers will have the choice to access what3words directly in their car.
Street addressing wasn’t designed for the 21st century, and often falls short when used for navigation. Postcodes cover large areas, street names can be long and complicated to type, and duplicates are surprisingly common (e.g. there are multiple ‘Lonsdale Roads’ in London alone). Remote places like roadside stops, fields and temporary worksites often don’t have an address at all. The underlying issue of inadequate addressing also impacts destination entry, with voice input systems often misinterpreting street names. Ultimately, these challenges slow drivers down, create inefficiencies for businesses and can compromise safety.
what3words provides a simple solution that is designed with voice in mind. The system has divided the globe into a grid of 3m x 3m squares, and assigned each square a unique combination of three words, known as a what3words address. This means every apartment building entrance, hard shoulder along the motorway, spot on the beach and warehouse drop-off point has its own what3words address. For example, ///filled.count.soap pinpoints the exact entrance to what3words’ London HQ, and can be entered simply with three words using either voice or text. The technology is available in over 60 languages to date.
Comments are closed.