Ford to use Apple Maps software in self-driving tech for new EV platform The automaker's new Universal Electric Vehicle platform will debut with a mid-size EV pickup priced around $30,000 in 2027 Ford is planning to integrate Apple software into its next-generation fleet of electric vehicles, which will, in turn, help power hands-free driving technology. Apple and Ford announced Thursday that Apple Maps will be included in the automakers' new Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform through the use of Apple's MapKit for Automotive SDK. Ford's UEV will debut with a midsize electric in 2027, and buyers won't need a separate Apple subscription to use the software in the vehicle. The UEV will harness that tech to give drivers turn-by-turn directions with the use of natural language, giving them real-time traffic and incident information, as well as a search function that uses detailed place cards and routing options. The partnership will also see Ford use road-level data from Apple Maps in the development of the company's next-generation BlueCruise hands-free driving capability, as well as its in-house autonomous driving tech. APPLE RAISES PRICES ON SOME STREAMING SERVICES AS LICENSING COSTS CLIMB Apple's MapKit for Automotive SDK provides road-level information to help automakers develop self-driving technologies, and the company said the tool uses the same privacy practices as Apple Maps, noting that it doesn't collect users' location details and activity in a way that can be linked to the individual user. "Apple Maps delivers the best map experience in the world, and we’re excited to bring the power of Maps’ navigation technology to Ford’s innovative Universal Electric Vehicle Platform," said Eddy Cue, Apple’s SVP of services and health. "With our new MapKit for Automotive SDK, we’re bringing Maps further into drivers’ daily lives, giving them an incredibly accurate and easy-to-use navigation system that