Addressing for the adventurous - Subaru of America announce integration of innovative location technology what3words

Find out more on how to use what3words in Subaru vehicles here

Entering a precise location into a navigation system can be a frustrating experience, particularly when the destination does not have a street address, such as campsites and car parks, or if the zip code covers a large area. Stadiums and industrial parks are usually assigned a single address and yet have multiple entrances and car parks, while some pop up venues may have no address at all. While globally 80% of motorists use satellite navigation in their cars, 87% of them do not trust it to direct them to the right destination every time .

what3words eliminates these issues, and is revolutionizing the way the world talks about location. It has divided the globe into a grid of 10ft x 10ft squares, and given each one a unique combination of three random words: a what3words address. what3words enables people to easily convey locations as specific as building entrances and parking spots and provides easy location references in places with no street addresses, such as beaches, national parks and remote hiking trails.

For example, an adventurous Subaru driver might enter /// costumes.plotted.notepad to navigate to the precise 10ft square in the Grand Canyon with the best view of the Kaibab Suspension Bridge across the Colorado River, or a Subaru Motorsports fan might use /// cautious.gladiator.bleary to meet friends at a spectator point during the New England Forest Rally and watch rally cars catch some air. Users will be able to input a three word address via voice or text, and the system works entirely offline, making it ideal for use in remote areas with poor internet connection.

Subaru and what3words have worked closely together since the SUBARU-SBI Innovation Fund first invested in the innovative location technology in 2019, and today’s announcement marks a new and exciting phase of the partnership.

Thomas J. Doll, President and CEO, Subaru of America, Inc. commented: “ At Subaru we’re known for being more than a car company. We want our drivers to be out exploring the world, and with this what3words integration, adventure has never been easier.”

Chris Sheldrick, co-founder and CEO of what3words commented “ From family vacations and camping trips to navigating winding roads and remote landscapes, what3words offers an address for every adventure. We’re confident that our technology will enhance the driving experience of Subaru drivers across the US and we’re excited to see how this partnership progresses.”

what3words’ technology has been adopted by global car companies, including Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Lamborghini, Lotus and Ford. Companies such as DK Guides, AirBnB and Lonely Planet use what3words to help travelers find the right hotel entrance or hard-to-find restaurants, and logistics brands like AO.com and Hermes use it to deliver goods exactly where they’re needed.

Additionally emergency call centers around the world are embracing what3words at a rapid pace, with control rooms in the UK, US, Australia, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Singapore, Canada, India, and South Africa all utilizing the innovative technology to save their teams time and resources when locating those in distress. As well as using the app for emergencies, individuals are using what3words every day to meet up with friends at parks and on beaches, to share great running and hiking locations, and to share sports match locations with their teams.

Find out more about how what3words is helping Automakers across the world.