GM Now Has Its Own API For Software Developers To Make Cool Apps For Its Cars - The Verge

4/25/24, 3:58 PM GM now has its own API for software developers to make cool apps for its
wn API for software developers to make cool apps for its cars - The Verge
/ Tech / Reviews / Science / Entertainment / AI / More
GM / TRANSPO / ELECTRIC CARS
GM now has its own API for software

developers to make cool apps for its cars /
uServices is the automaker’s new set of APIs for
developers — and another step toward GM’s
ultimate goal of the Software Defined Vehicle.
By Andrew J. Hawkins, transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public
transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State.
Oct 12, 2023, 6:30 PM GMT+5:30
18 Comments (18 New)
https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/12/23914060/gm-uservices-api-software-apps-car-sdv 1/9
4/25/24, 3:58 PM GM now has its own API for software developers to make cool apps for its cars - The Verge
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
General Motors is ramping up its efforts to create a better technology

experience for software developers to make cool apps for its vehicles —
and, notably, the vehicles of its competitors.
GM announced a new vehicle services definition called “uServices” for

the automotive software developer community. In essence, uServices is
meant to serve as GM’s own API for other software developers to build
apps that can work across multiple lineups of vehicles. The automaker
is also submitting the new definition to the Connected Vehicle Systems
Alliance (COVESA), a global alliance focused on the development of
open standards and technologies for connected vehicles.
Related / This new definition aims for
The next big software upgrade isn’t standardized software “to
your computer or phone — it’s your
car securely access vehicle
systems from anywhere in an
OEM vehicle ecosystem,” the
automaker says. Along with the open-source software protocol,
uProtocol, that GM introduced earlier this year, the company says it’s
putting the pieces in place required for the creation of Software
Defined Vehicles (SDVs).
Here’s how GM says uServices will work:
While uProtocol serves as the backbone for more efficient vehicle

software development across the industry, uServices is meant to set
standards for interfacing with vehicle features and communicating
through that backbone, serving as a standard API to abstract vehicle
services, enabling a unified connected vehicle ecosystem.
The overall effort is intended to speed the development of SDVs. The

auto industry has been on a hiring spree over the past several years,
scooping up thousands of software developers in the hopes of bringing
more technical sophistication to their fleets. The recent Silicon Valley

layoffs have afforded those companies even more of an opportunity to
build up their ranks of coders, engineers, and tech-savvy workers.
The result has been the release of more cars with continuously
updating software features. Tesla was the first company to bring over-
the-air software updates to the mainstream. Now, the rest of the
industry is scrambling to catch up by introducing their own upgradable
vehicles.
GM’s contribution to this effort is Ultifi, a software platform that will

start to appear in vehicles later this year. The company says that the
end-to-end software platform will enable OTA updates, in-car
subscription services, and “new opportunities to increase customer
loyalty.”
18 COMMENTS (18 NEW)
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4/25/24, 3:58 PM GM now has its own API for software developers to make cool apps for its

/ Tech / Reviews / Science / Entertainment / AI / More

GM / TRANSPO / ELECTRIC CARS

GM now has its own API for software

18 Comments (18 New)

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

General Motors is ramping up its efforts to create a better technology

GM announced a new vehicle services definition called “uServices” for

Here’s how GM says uServices will work:

While uProtocol serves as the backbone for more efficient vehicle

The overall effort is intended to speed the development of SDVs. The

more technical sophistication to their fleets. The recent Silicon Valley

GM’s contribution to this effort is Ultifi, a software platform that will

18 COMMENTS (18 NEW)

Which M2 is right for you?

More from Transpo

Scout Motors wants to put the ‘mechanical’ back into

GM is preparing for another major expansion of its hands-

Tesla’s latest update takes aim at cold weather woes

CONTACT / TIP US / COMMUNITY GUIDEL INES / ABOUT / ETHICS STATEMENT

THE VERGE IS A VOX MEDI A NETWORK

ADVERTISE WITH US / JOBS @ VOX MEDI A

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