Ford & Lincoln Get Enhanced Amazon Alexa Voice Command Features

Owners of Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with Amazon’s hands-free Alexa feature no longer have to use only standard voice commands, should they prefer speaking to the AI in other ways. Ford recently introduced enhanced Car Control features, and it includes the ability to teach Alexa commands that let owners speak naturally.

Every vehicle with Alexa Built-in will get access to enhanced Car Control when it becomes available to them. For instance, they can program in “Alexa, I’m too hot,” and then teach the voice assistant to respond by asking what course of action it should take, such as “I can make it cooler by 5 degrees or switch on the AC. Which should I do?”

“Ford pioneered SYNC in-vehicle voice technology, and Amazon’s Alexa voice AI continues to advance the industry with more innovative, personalized experiences,” said Yvonne Gloria, supervisor, Ford Core Speech Technology. “We are making it even easier for drivers to stay focused on driving by using more voice commands because you can now train your vehicle to do tasks based on your preferences and how you naturally speak.”

According to JD Power, after the groundbreaking SYNC launch in 2017, Ford has continued to expand customer choice into 2022. With nearly 80 percent of American consumers saying they want the same voice service in their car as they do at home, it’s hard to not see the automaker’s success.

Currently, the models available with hands-free access are the 2022 F-150, Bronco, Mustang Mach-E, Edge, the new Expedition, Nautilus and newly launched Navigator. The highly-anticipated 2022 F-150 Lightning will also arrive with the feature when it launches. Ford introduced the hands-free Alexa feature for its vehicles in 2021, marking the start of its six-year partnership with Amazon. As part of that collaboration, it’s giving its customers free access to Alexa for up to three years that begin on the new vehicle’s warranty start date.

Ford is scheduled to show its enhanced Car Control and Alexa capabilities in action this year at the New York International Auto Show, from April 15th through the 24th.