LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic announced today that the Panasonic Skip Generation (SkipGen) IVI Platform highlighted last year at CES has been upgraded to the latest Android™ operating system (OS) – Android 8.1 Oreo. The platform combination of Panasonic's market leading IVI with the very latest Android OS will give drivers access to standard Android Automotive Applications, and demonstrate embedded Google content and services like streaming media, navigation, as well as vehicle functions like climate settings, which are all controllable with the Google Assistant.

As part of the demonstration, Panasonic will showcase a fully embedded and Android-enabled IVI that runs natively in the vehicle with no mobile device required. The IVI is built on the SkipGen platform, which supports the latest Android OS and will update with subsequent OS releases.

In this demonstration, Google Assistant and Google Maps™ run natively on Android-powered IVI, showcasing these popular services when directly integrated into vehicle. By simply saying "Hey Google", drivers can easily and quickly ask Google Assistant for help on various tasks such as navigating to a destination with Google Maps, playing music, or controlling vehicle functions such as HVAC – even when you leave your phone behind.

"The pace of change in the mobility and connected vehicle industries signifies that the market demands deeper technology-enabled experiences from OEMs," said Tom Gebhardt, Chairman & CEO, Panasonic Corporation of North America. "In just the past year alone, our SkipGen IVI platform has gone from concept to two OEM production awards, from demonstration to industry award-winning, and from Android 7.0 to 8.1, allowing us to now quickly iterate on the software and address future market needs at a faster pace than many consumer electronics. With potential integrations such as the Google Assistant and Google Maps™, we are accelerating this innovation to revolutionize the next generation in-vehicle experience."

"As we continue to evolve Android as a platform for consumers and across industries, leveraging the expertise from a partner like Panasonic allows us to deliver automotive-grade in-vehicle experiences," said Patrick Brady, Vice President of Android Engineering, Google. "Enabling instant access to Google services from the IVI provides new experiences for OEMs to deliver as they continue to seek new ways to connect drivers."

This IVI integration is the latest in a Panasonic and Google partnership history where Panasonic has successfully applied Android-based products to create new connected experiences in areas from consumer to avionic and automobile solutions.

The new Panasonic Automotive IVI system will be available by invitation only at LVCC throughout the duration of CES2018.

About Panasonic Corporation of North America          
Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation and leverages its strengths in Immersive Entertainment, Sustainable Energy, Automated Supply Chains and Connected Solutions to provide secure and resilient integrated solutions for B2B customers. Panasonic was highlighted in Forbes Magazine's Global 2000 ranking as one of the Top Ten Best Regarded Companies for 2017. The ranking is based on outstanding scores for trustworthiness, honesty with the public and superior performance of products and solutions. Learn more about Panasonic's ideas and innovations at PanasonicMovesUs.com.

About Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America
Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America is a division company of Panasonic Corporation of North America and is the top supplier of automotive infotainment systems globally, according to IHS. Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America acts as the North American operating company of Panasonic Corp.'s Automotive & Industrial Systems Company, which coordinates global automotive and industrial systems and components operations. Panasonic Automotive is headquartered in Peachtree City, Georgia, with sales, marketing and engineering operations in Farmington Hills, Michigan. For more information on Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, please visit: us.panasonic.com/automotive.

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SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America