Lambo Blogging: Alexa Can Now Communicate with Your Nissan

Honking the horn, flashing the lights, locking the doors, and remote starting your vehicle’s engine can now be done from inside your house, as long as you own one of Nissan’s compatible vehicles. Later in the month, Nissan will add Alexa integration on a host of models, including the Altima, Armada, GT-R, Maxima, Murano, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, and Titan XD. The new Amazon Alexa skill, called NissanConnect Services, can be utilized free of charge and is found under the connected car category in the Amazon Skills Store.

Depending on the specific model, the new Alexa feature will be available on 2016, 2017, 2017.5, and 2018 model-year vehicles equipped with NissanConnect Services telematics. Owners will be required to have an active NissanConnect Services subscription and a valid Nissan Owner Portal account.

Once the skill is enabled, commands such as “Alexa, ask NissanConnect Services to start my Maxima,” or “Alexa, ask NissanConnect Services to lock the door of my Rogue Sport” can be said. Alexa will then confirm the request and the vehicle will comply. For added security, a four-digit pin number will be required for certain commands including remote engine start.

Nissan has plans to expand Amazon Alexa to other models, including the redesigned 2018 Nissan Leaf. If you own the original Leaf (2011-2017), you’ll be able to manage remote charging, adjust the climate controls, and check the battery charge status using the Alexa skill called the NissanConnect EV and Services Skill.

Nissan is not the first automaker to use Amazon Alexa for vehicle commands. Ford recently announced it’s bringing Alexa to its Sync 3 system and Genesis offers Alexa compatibility on its G80 and G90 models.

Owners can also change the name of their vehicle to whatever they like. So don’t be confused if you hear someone say, “Alexa, ask NissanConnect Services to honk the horn of my Speed Racer.”

Source: Nissan