GM to enable control by voice commands

General Motors Co. is going to enable owners of many Chevrolet models to use voice commands for controlling Apple and Android applications on smartphones.

On Wednesday, GM said that the program, which is going to start this summer, includes the redesigned 2016 Cruze small car that will make a debut in June.

Almost all of Chevy's 2016 vehicles will be able to use the brand's MyLink infotainment system for accessing Apple Inc.'s CarPlay. Six models will be set up to work with Google Inc.'s Android Auto.

For the compatibility, the car buyers need not to pay any additional money. Drivers will be able to use MyLink's voice-recognition system. Through this system they can send text messages and access phone lists as well as functions, including Google Maps and Spotify Inc.'s music service.

On Wednesday, at the annual Code conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., chief executive officer Mary Barra said, "The more we can do for customers to make life simpler, to make technology compatible and do it in a way that doesn't cause distraction, I think we have a promising add to the customer, and they are going to want it".

The largest US automaker has already got a competition in offering the feature. On Tuesday, Hyundai Motor Co. said that its 2015 Sonata will be linked to Android Auto this year if the car will be having a navigation system.

The all new GM feature will allow the car owners to plug their phones into the dashboard in case they are having Android 5.0 or higher or an iPhone 5 or 6.

Alicia Boler-Davis, Detroit-based GM's senior vice president for global connected customers, said that it's all about selling cars.

Alicia Boler-Davis added that the main idea is to give drivers one more reason to buy Chevys. It is also a way to get some of them to buy data packages from the automaker, piping an AT&T Inc. 4G connection into its cars.