That annoying buddy who’s consistently telling you ways superior Waze is over your crappy navigation app throughout highway journeys might quickly must put their cash the place their mouth is. For the primary time, the Google-owned social navigation app is getting its personal devoted in-car app, although it’s going to solely work with two new Renault vehicles for now.

Waze introduced the brand new characteristic in a blog post Tuesday, saying the built-in app, which is able to run by way of Google Built-In, would let customers make the most of Waze’s actual time routine, navigation, and alerts with out the necessity for a cellphone. While many vehicles may already sync up Waze from a cellphone app, this new characteristic is constructed straight into the autos, which Waze argues may result in, “safer and more convenient journeys.” The integration will probably be accessible in Renault Austral Hybrid and Megane E-Tech electrical autos. If these fashions sound considerably unfamiliar, it’s as a result of they’re solely actually accessible in Europe.

“As more Waze users engage with us on in-car platforms and we see advancements in in-car technologies, it’s important that we bring the best driving experiences to our users, which is why we are thrilled to announce our partnership with Renault,” Waze Director of Marketing and Partnerships Aron Di Castro mentioned in an announcement. “Having Waze’s real-time navigation, routing and alerts built into the display of Renault’s vehicles, makes for a simplified and seamless driving experience.”

In addition to Waze, the Renault autos may also combine with Google Maps, Google Assistant, Google Play, and different Alphabet providers. That voice management factor will let customers management sure automobile settings, just like the temperature, all palms free. Other non-Alphabet apps like Spotify are additionally reportedly included in Renault’s multimedia system. 

The Waze integration is an element of a bigger development of tech corporations racing to show commuters’ autos into viable display screen time. While web connectivity and app integration in autos was a relative rarity simply ten years in the past, it’s poised to change into close to ubiquitous in coming years. By 2026, according to an Insider Intelligence estimate, 72.3% of licensed U.S. drivers are anticipated to drive a linked automobile. That’s up from 52% of licensed drivers in 2022. All of that point spent listening and interacting with gadgets may show invaluable for advertisers and different entrepreneurs seeking to money in on the hours many drivers spend behind the wheel each week.