Back to In-Vehicle Apps

Alexa Built-in^†, part of your infotainment system^†, offers many of the same skills and features as Alexa in your home. You can choose to set Alexa as the default voice system in the vehicle.  

In addition to a properly equipped vehicle, you’ll need an eligible active service plan^† or trial and free Amazon account. Eligible plans include the Premium, Connected Vehicle and App Access plans.  

Before using Alexa in your vehicle: 

• If you don’t have an Amazon account, create one at amazon.ca
  
• For best results, download the Amazon Alexa mobile app to your phone, which allows you to download skills and access linked accounts and media services. You can find it in the Google Play^† or Apple App Store^®† 
  
• Download the associated skills and link accounts to the media services you’d like to access in the Alexa mobile app in Settings> Music & Podcasts (e.g., Spotify^† Audible^†, iHeartRadio^*† or Amazon Music)
  *Note: Coming soon to Canada.
  
• If you are currently listening on a home device using the same account, no action is required and your skills will be available in your vehicle 
  
• Pair your phone with the vehicle via Bluetooth^† 
  
• Tap on the in-vehicle Alexa app to complete the in-vehicle setup process by scanning the QR code with your compatible smartphone and signing in to your Amazon account
  

To wake Alexa, simply say “Alexa” and a command (Google built-in only). Alternatively, you can press and release the Push-to-talk button on your steering wheel or tap on the centre display

• Your phone must be Bluetooth^® paired in order to make phone calls and access your phone contacts
  
• After waking Alexa, say “Alexa, call...” followed by the name of a contact or phone number (e.g., “Alexa, call John Doe” or “Alexa, call 313-665-2000”)*
   

*Apple CarPlay^® must be disconnected in order to make calls with Alexa. 

• With embedded navigation, you can ask Alexa to navigate by address, business name, contact name, home or work. Plus, easily search points of interest and add them as stops along the way 
  
• Say “Alexa, show me nearby coffee shops,” and Alexa will provide a list of the closest options on your centre display, which you can then navigate to 
  
• If you don’t have embedded Navigation or Turn-by-Turn Navigation, you can ask for route overview or traffic information (e.g., Alexa, how long will it take me to get to work?)

• To play music, say “Alexa, play,” followed by the name of an artist, song, album, playlist, channel, podcast, book, AM/FM radio station or SiriusXM^®† station name or number (if your vehicle has SiriusXM)
  
• Alexa will play content from the sources linked on your Alexa account (such as Spotify, Audible, iHeartRadio or Amazon Music), or through your vehicle’s radio tuner
   

– Example: “Alexa, play jazz on Spotify” 
 

• You can control playback using commands such as “Pause,” “Skip,” “Next,” “Previous,” etc.
  
  

– Additional controls may be available for certain channels and service providers, including “Thumbs Up,” adding a station, adding songs to a playlist, etc. 

• To control the temperature, say “Alexa, set temperature” followed by the desired driver, passenger or rear temperature. Auto mode can be set for front and rear temperatures*
  
  

– Example: “Alexa, set driver-side temperature to 68” 
 

*Note: Climate Control is not available in vehicles with Google built-in 

• To control volume in your vehicle, say “Alexa, set volume” followed by your desired volume level. You can also turn volume down through voice commands* 
  
  

• To mute/unmute volume in your vehicle, say “Alexa mute/unmute volume” 
   

*Not available on Google built-in 

• If you link your account, you can use most of the functionality available on devices in your home with Alexa Built-in (select “Things to try” from the Alexa Settings menu to learn more), including:
  

– Find your nearest GM Dealership or auto service centre 
– Find the nearest gas station
– Control your compatible smart home devices^†
– Ask for information, such as weather, facts, trivia, etc. 
– Visit amazon.ca/alexa-auto to learn about additional functionality