Toyota to add more standard connected car features next year

Toyota announced that new Prius models will come with additional connected car technology. Apple CarPlay, Amazon’s Alexa voice AI, and the car manufacturer’s Safety Connect system will come standard beginning with the 2020 car makes.

Safety Connect includes tools such as automatic collision detection, roadside assistance, emergency assistance, and a stolen vehicle locator. The L Eco, LE, and XLE Prius versions of the platform will include a Toyota Audio touchscreen. The system usually costs $8 a month of $80 a year, but Toyota is offering three years of access for free.

The news is a shift in direction for Toyota, which has long relied entirely on its own proprietary tools for infotainment in vehicles.

Anna Washenko