The TomTom traffic service will make Waze style traffic information native to SYNC 4.

Ford and mapping technology company TomTom announced that starting with the 2021 Ford F-150 and Mustang Mach-E models.

Ford's newest infotainment interface software will rely upon TomTom's traffic information capabilities to drive real-time traffic updates for SYNC 4 users.

The partnership falls into accord with many of the acquisitions and cooperative agreements the company has executed over the past few years. It also integrates with the more utilitarian theme of Ford vehicle design in its most-sold vehicles.

“Their next-generation SYNC technologies have twice the computing power of the previous-generation system to do much more, including real-time, smartphone-like mapping that can help you adjust on the fly to quicker routes based on their network of millions of connected devices.”

TomTom Traffic provides accurate, real-time traffic information, which will keep SYNC 4 users informed about traffic patterns and travel times. The advanced TomTom service can predict traffic jams before they happen with updates every 30 seconds based on more than 70 million driving hours every day from millions of connected devices.

“Their next-generation SYNC technologies have twice the computing power of the previous-generation system to do much more, including real-time, smartphone-like mapping that can help you adjust on the fly to quicker routes based on their network of millions of connected devices”, said Stuart Taylor, executive director, Enterprise Connectivity.

The system will rely on internet updates, similar to popular cell phone apps. It remains to be seen how poor cellular coverage ends up affecting the system during real-world usage.

Ford's SYNC 4 system has been promised as the next big step forward for infotainment in their vehicles. The company has begun including larger more functional touchscreens to stay abreast of a growing trend in automobile interior design.

The Ford SYNC 4 system will be relied upon to drive functionality in the automobile makers most technically sophisticated vehicles to-date.