Genesis G80 and G90 owners can use Amazon Alexa to control their cars

8 years, 3 months ago - 22 August 2016, Autoblog

While a number of car companies, including BMW, are preparing their cars to be compatible with Amazon Alexa and devices that support it, Genesis has beaten them all to the line.

The company announced today that both the G90 flagship sedan and the smaller G80 sedan are compatible with a newly available Alexa skill.

The skill allows drivers to talk to Alexa and have it start or stop the car, activate the lights, locks and adjust the climate control. For instance, if you want to start your car and have a specific temperature, you can say, "Alexa, tell Genesis to start my car at 70 degrees." That's pretty cool.

The skill does require the car's owner to subscribe to Genesis Connected Services, which is complimentary for three years with the purchase of any new Genesis model. The owner also needs to have an Alexa-enabled device like the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot and Amazon Tap to use the feature. Fortunately for new G90 buyers, Genesis will provide an Amazon Gift Card that can be used to get an Amazon Echo. However, G80 buyers won't get this bonus, so they and existing Genesis will need to provide their own Alexa-enabled device through other means.