Automotive Skills: Ways Alexa Can Make Your Drive Easier, More Fun, and More Relaxing

We care deeply about what you can do when you are on the go. Alexa has worked with many different developers to anticipate challenges you may have when you are driving and help make your drive easier, more fun, and more relaxing with Alexa skills for automotive. There are Alexa skills that help with navigation, parking, gas, roadside assistance, and keep you entertained while you are on the go.

Developers have already built more than 100,000 Alexa skills, and many of them are available through vehicles with Alexa or automotive devices with Alexa built-in. More recently, however, we’ve begun to see companies investing in developing Alexa skills that are specifically designed for the in-car environment. In addition to the connected car skills for individual vehicle makes and models, there are Alexa skills for automotive that you can start using today. Here are just a few examples: 

Navigation

What3words divided the world into 3m x 3m squares, each with a unique 3-word address. It means that you can refer to any precise location – a delivery entrance, a picnic spot, or a drone landing point – using just three words. What3words optimized for voice and the quickest way to enter addresses on the go. For example, you can say: “Alexa, ask What3words to navigate to cloth grit dice.”
 

Roadside Assistance

The Urgent.ly skill for Alexa is a great way to request roadside assistance for your vehicle with your voice. Simply say “Alexa, open Urgently” and Urgently will help you find the nearest service provider to get you back on the road safely. The Urgent.ly skill will allow you to request flat tire repair with Alexa or connect to a roadside specialist for any other roadside request with just a phone number, location, and Amazon Pay with the Alexa app.

Find and Pay for Parking

Stop circling the block and book a space before you get where you’re going. ParkWhiz takes the hassle out of parking. Find parking in cities across North America, compare prices, and save up to 50% off standard parking rates. ParkWhiz finds an amazing parking space near your destination for the times you need, whether you have a specific address or a location like the Empire State Building, United Center, or Fisherman’s Wharf. Simply say, “Alexa, ask ParkWhiz to find parking nearby.” Once Alexa tells you a space's price and distance from your destination, you can book in seconds and pay with Amazon Pay.

Parking Rules and Restrictions

From now on parking fines are history for you! Parkbob tells you the applicable rules, restrictions, times, and cost for any given spot in many major US cities. Simply say, “Alexa, ask Parkbob, can I park here?”

Pay For, Keep Track Of, and Extend Parking

PayByPhone provides a simple, secure, and convenient way to pay for your parking. Simply say, “Alexa, ask PayByPhone to start parking” to begin a new parking session. Then tell Alexa your location number and how long you want to park for. You can also add time to an existing parking session or ask Alexa how much time you have left on your current parking. PayByPhone is available in supported cities in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Canada with account linking.

Finding Gas

The GasBuddy skill uses their community of millions of Gas Buddies to get you the most current information on fuel prices and the most accurate ratings of convenience store coffee or clean bathrooms. Simply say, “Alexa, ask GasBuddy to find the closest gas station with a bathroom.” You can also report gas prices on the go with a voice-only interface to give the latest prices for a station.

Trivia for Your Commute

Drivetime is the first trivia skill designed for audio-only, voice-activated games for your drive. You never have to use your hands or take your eyes off the road. Set it to start like music, podcasts, or radio shows - there’s no more tapping or swiping; which means you can enjoy a fun, engaging commute or road trip. Just say, “Alexa, open Drivetime.” Each game features three quizzes with progressively more challenging questions, so there’s something for players of all depths of knowledge. Test your knowledge across seven trivia categories: Music, Literature, TV & Film, History & Society, The World, Science & Technology, and Sports & Leisure.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Do you want to explore more Alexa skills? You can see the tens of thousands of skills here. Or, if you want to build your own Alexa skill for automotive, check our Best Practices.  We are always looking for great ideas to help make the drive easier and more fun.