The app uses voice-based artificial intelligence to identify cultural landmarks from books, songs, movies and podcasts on a driver’s phone and embed them into the vehicle’s navigation map. When the app detects that it is near one of those locations, it automatically offers passengers tailored options for content that they can listen to about the site.

By creating layers of content on top of maps, a driver in Jerusalem might hear about songs or stories about places mentioned in the Bible, while a Beatles fan driving in New York might learn about the Strawberry Fields memorial to John Lennon in Central Park, for example.

According to Volkswagen, Mappo will be included in the application store integrated into the Harman car multimedia system along with other common apps such as Spotify. The system will be installed in VW’s Audi luxury cars, then integrated into the e-tron GT models and then into other Porsche and VW models.

The German-based Volkswagen is Europe’s largest carmaker, but is not the first to install the app. In 2021, the Ford Motor Company began integrating Mappo into its vehicles.

The Tel Aviv-based Mappo was founded in 2017 by Deddi Zucker, one of the original founders of Peace Now who was also a member of the Israeli Knesset from 1986-1999. Since leaving politics, Zucker, now 75, launched three digital content companies before starting up Mappo.

“Today, billions are invested in the world in developing the driving experience. Vehicle manufacturers compete with each other in this sector, which creates differentiation between them. For them, we provide voice storytelling for the occupants of the car, and today can provide thousands of content points in any city or region of the world within three hours.”

Image - Reuters