CARIAD and HARMAN announce growing ecosystem with new apps

The additions expand the range of apps available in the Group Application Store, a uniform in-car application store for cars of the Volkswagen Group brands, to more than 70 depending on the model and market. The Group Application Store integrates with the HARMAN Ignite Store, a solution for automotive infotainment systems that allows OEMs to maintain control of third-party content, the user experience and relationship with the end user. Audi has already implemented the store in select Audi models and regions from model year 2024 onwards and will also integrate it in the all-new Audi Q6 e-tron that will start coming to customers this August, with additional Volkswagen Group brands to follow. 

New apps soon available in the Group Application Store include:

• Booking.com – The Booking.com app helps users find great hotel or apartment deals and book in just a few minutes. Users can also book flights, rental cars, and more through the app.
• Eventseeker – Eventseeker is a personalized in-car event service designed to minimize search time and maximize discovery. The app provides detailed information on concerts, sports, theater, comedy, festivals, and cultural events in any city. Whether you're new to a city or a local, Eventseeker uses your music preferences to recommend events tailored to your interests, no matter where you are.
• Livil – The "In-Car Messenger" from livil offers drivers access to all their favorite communication and work channels in one integrated app. Utilizing voice and assisted by Gen AI, the driver’s typical communication processes are streamlined and semi-automated.
• Shelly Smart Control – The Shelly Smart Control app offers customers a seamless IoT experience for enhanced automation control and precise monitoring of all Shelly devices from around the world. The application allows users to keep track of their current energy usage with ease and get a forecast of their monthly electricity bills for better budgeting. 
• Tennis TV – Tennis TV is ATP Media’s direct-to-consumer streaming service—which first launched in 2006—and delivers a rich experience to a global audience of tennis fans, all-year-round from every ATP Tour tournament. Users can live stream up to 2,500 matches a year—all available as full replays on-demand—plus, match highlights, classic matches dating back to 1990 and behind the scenes interviews and features. Watch live and on-demand, with a subscription, on computers, mobile & tablets, Smart TVs and other streaming devices—and now in your Audi.

Quotes of app providers: 

Booking.com

Mark van der Linden, VP Partnerships, Booking.com: “Here at Booking.com, we are proud to make our app available to more travelers, thanks to our collaboration with CARIAD and HARMAN. We’re providing users with the convenience of booking flights, accommodations, and more on-the-go.”

Eventseeker

"With Eventseeker, we're thrilled to unlock a world of event possibilities right from your vehicle,” said Fraser Campbell, CEO at Wcities. “Imagine discovering events tailored to your location and musical tastes, transforming your day, evening, or weekend into something extraordinary. Thanks to the HARMAN Ignite Store and its seamless development capabilities, we're able to offer experiences that were previously out of reach. It's all about making every moment more enjoyable and exciting."

Livil

“The livil team is happy to collaborate and innovate with both CARIAD and HARMAN,” said Nils Frers, CEO at livil. “With livil's ‘In-Car Messenger,’ drivers of Volkswagen Group vehicles will receive first access to the platform which has been purpose-built around the opportunities and requirements unique to driving.”

Shelly Smart Control

“The seamless integration of our Shelly Smart Control app within HARMAN Ignite Store enables customers to have the ultimate automation experience. As a result of our partnership, millions of users can enjoy our advanced application via the familiar user interface of their vehicle's own infotainment system,” said Wolfgang Kirsch, CEO of Shelly Group.

Tennis TV

“ATP Media is delighted to be working with CARIAD and HARMAN, two companies who share a similar ethos to ATP Media of striving for technological advancement, to be able to bring Tennis TV to even more tennis fans,” said Stuart Taylor, Director of Consumer Streaming at ATP Media. “As the direct to consumer streaming service of the ATP Tour, Tennis TV is always looking for ways to grow the game for fans, broadcast partners and other stakeholders and having Tennis TV available via the HARMAN Ignite Store is a great step forward.”