Google has partnered with Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai and technology firm Nvidia to form the Open Automotive Alliance (OAA), with the aim of incorporating its Android OS into cars.

“Wouldnt it be great if you could bring your favourite apps and music with you, and use them safely with your cars built-in controls and in-dash display?” said Patrick Brady, director of Android engineering at Google. “Together with our OAA partners, were working to enable new forms of integration with Android devices, and adapting Android for the car to make driving safer, easier and more enjoyable for everyone.”

Of course, plenty of automotive manufacturers are already rolling out these kinds of capabilities – such as Fords AppLink service – and tech firms have developed their own offerings for connected cars, most notably Nokias HERE solution, which launched in August last year.

Google claims its approach will offer openness, customisation and scale, as well as having the weight of the Android app ecosystem behind it.

The name recalls Googles Open Handset Alliance, founded in 2007, which helped bring Android to a wider range of devices, setting it up for the market dominance it enjoys today – the intent with the OAA is presumably to do the same thing for the automative industry.