Apple has made it easier for car manufacturers to include Apple Maps as their default navigation software, and Ford is the first automaker to adopt it. Ford's Universal Electric Vehicle Platform, set to debut in 2027, will embed Maps tech into its systems using Apple's new MapKit for Automotive SDK, starting with a $30,000 midsize EV. Built-in features include turn-by-turn directions via natural-language search and real-time traffic and incident information. It’s also set to include intelligent EV routing features like battery preconditioning, which communicates with a charger to let it know your car is coming, allowing it to heat up, reach the right temperature, and reduce charging times. Apple Maps will be baked into the car’s infotainment system, meaning you won’t need to own an iPhone to access mapping. Ford confirms that CarPlay will remain available on its vehicles, so you can continue to use other iPhone features safely while driving. The partnership will also see Apple Maps tech help inform future updates to Ford's BlueCruise, which enables hands-free highway driving on pre-approved roads. Ford says Maps data will help it deliver "a more seamless on-ramp-to-off-ramp experience," without elaborating. “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 is seamlessly integrated into Ford vehicles," says Apple's Eddy Cue, SVP of services and health. However, this isn’t an exclusive deal with Ford, so other automakers may soon begin to include Maps via Apple's new MapKit SDK.