Google and Volkswagen Mashup - Google In-Car Navigation

Reuters reports that Volkswagen’s American unit is working on a prototype in-car navigation system using Google’s “Google Earth” mapping technology. The software would give drivers a bird’s eye view of the road ahead.

The two companies are working with the graphics chipmaker Nvidia Corp. to build an in-car navigation map system and a three-dimensional display so passengers can recognize where they are in relation to the surrounding topography.

The car manufacturer showed off the prototype car at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January.

A spokesman for the automaker said there were no definite plans to use the technology inside cars. But the collaboration between the automaker and Google shows the progress the Web search leader is making expanding beyond the computer realm.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. For most people, being able to see the buildings and the landmarks for reference would be much easier to use than a regular flat map with a moving marker on it.