what3words unveils new in-vehicle app for precise navigation
Today at the Commercial Vehicle Show what3words announced the upcoming launch of its new in-vehicle app, what3words for Auto, which will bring a precise, voice-enabled way to navigate directly through the car’s infotainment system.
The app will allow drivers – from everyday motorists to those on the road for work – to reach exact destinations using just three words. Part of what3words’ Pro membership, this launch marks a major step towards putting the power of precise navigation directly into drivers’ hands.
Built for Android Automotive OS (AAOS), the what3words for Auto app will be available via Android Auto, CarPlay and select in-vehicle app stores from summer 2026 onwards. This means millions more drivers will have the choice to access what3words directly in their car.
Street addressing wasn’t designed for the 21st century, and often falls short when used for navigation. Postcodes cover large areas, street names can be long and complicated to type, and duplicates are surprisingly common (e.g. there are multiple ‘Lonsdale Roads’ in London alone). Remote places like roadside stops, fields and temporary worksites often don’t have an address at all. The underlying issue of inadequate addressing also impacts destination entry, with voice input systems often misinterpreting street names. Ultimately, these challenges slow drivers down, create inefficiencies for businesses and can compromise safety.
what3words provides a simple solution that is designed with voice in mind. The system has divided the globe into a grid of 3m x 3m squares, and assigned each square a unique combination of three words, known as a what3words address. This means every apartment building entrance, hard shoulder along the motorway, spot on the beach and warehouse drop-off point has its own what3words address. For example, ///filled.count.soap pinpoints the exact entrance to what3words’ London HQ, and can be entered simply with three words using either voice or text. The technology is available in over 60 languages to date.
Available to those with a what3words Pro membership (£3.49 per month), what3words for Auto is designed to make destination entry quick, accurate and intuitive. Enabled by custom-trained AI, members will be able to simply search and input a precise what3words address for their destination using natural language commands. For example, a driver can say “Let’s navigate to varieties apply shirts ”, select the destination and be guided to the precise location with ease. The system will also allow members to view and select what3words locations saved into lists on their what3words mobile app account.
Chris Sheldrick, Co-founder and CEO of what3words, said: “Seamless destination entry is fundamental to a good navigation experience. Millions of people use what3words to get exactly where they need to go, and we’re proud to bring that experience directly into the car. With what3words for Auto, drivers will be able to reach exact locations with ease using cutting-edge voice entry technology. It’s a major milestone towards our goal of what3words being available in vehicles around the world, making precise addressing accessible to everyone, everywhere.”
what3words for Auto builds on the company’s growing momentum in the automotive sector. The technology is already natively integrated into vehicles from brands including Jaguar Land Rover, Subaru, Lamborghini and Mahindra, helping drivers find precise locations with ease. The what3words app is free to download for both iOS and Android and accessible via the online map at what3words.com
For more information on what3words for Auto, visit what3words.com/products/what3words-for-auto
