Flutter for Automotive App Development: The Secret Sauce for BMW & Toyota’s Success

Blog Synopsis: Flutter has been a reliable technology for diverse industry software. Among them, Flutter for the automotive industry has a separate basis which has impressed the top companies. BMW and Toyota are truly inspiring stories. So, you can also get a spot in those automotive businesses with Flutter. Explore why BMW and Toyota choose Flutter for automotive app development and how to develop one for your firm! 

The automotive sector is emerging and growing with the adaptation of new technologies. Automotive market dynamics have been shifting. Even the introduction of EVs (electric vehicles) has also given a sturdy rise in demand. Accordingly, the significance of top-tier automotive app development services is the prime focus. 

Even if you already have embedded software, upgrading it with a reliable solution makes a difference. However, it requires thriving technology for automotive applications. Recently the trailblazing platform of Linux, Automotive Grade Linux (AGL) has partnered with Flutter for automotive app development. 

Well, Flutter for the automotive industry has been an efficient tech solution. Being the robust technology for the automotive application is a remarkable choice. With an appealing digital cockpit with multi-platform capabilities and reusable components.  

The automotive sector has already uplifted digital or technical solutions to automobile users. Using expert resources and accurate technologies will make it a striving solution. It has been utilized for new-age solutions like you can build an AR app with Flutter and even PWAs. Therefore, you can trust the Flutter app for the automotive industry. Here is the breakdown of the various automotive software Flutter can be used for. 

What is Flutter for the Automotive Industry Used For? 

Your automotive business can seamlessly skyrocket with automotive software development using the centralized solution Flutter. Have a look into why use Flutter is relevant for different software of your business. 

• Flutter for Companion Mobile Apps

The companion’s mobile apps are the car business providers’ own applications. It allows users to keep track of vehicles and control their several functions from phones. Flutter makes the companion app run smoothly on all platforms, ie., Android, iOS, and Windows. Thus, it is a limitless solution with high-end native UI features that suffice for various mobile users. 

• Flutter for Embedded

Flutter is a cutting-edge open-source framework. That has been the widened solution by using layered architecture and native code compilation. It can deliver a clean interface with custom Flutter embedders to the latest hardware and operating systems.

• Flutter for In-vehicle Infotainment (IVI) System

With the help of Flutter’s Embedder API, automotive firms can develop leading In-vehicle Infotainment (IVI) Systems. Toyota has already used Flutter for its infotainment systems. Thus, the Flutter SDK and portable codes of Dart can boost your automobile with powerful (IVI) systems. 

Using the Flutter exceptional UI you can improve the traditional human-machine interfaces (HMI) of your digital cockpit. So, it gives an optimized driver experience with engaging displays and ease-of-use features on the systems.

Although the above has mentioned the uses of Flutter, now we are heading into the benefits you get if you use Flutter for automotive app development.

What are the Benefits Of Using Flutter For Automotive Development? 

Flutter app for the automotive industry has been the pioneering solution. Its embedded service does the job very well for your automotive software. Following are the advantages of using Flutter automotive app development. 

• Shared Codebase

Firstly, Flutter’s most effective and likable feature is a shared codebase. It prevents developers from writing the entire code during migration. Even if you begin from scratch to develop an automotive Flutter app, you can use a single codebase for all platforms. Accordingly, Flutter is the rapid development framework. Your automotive app can gain an edge for Android, iOS, or the web by reusing the codes.

• Hot Reloading

Secondly, the most compelling feature of Flutter is hot reloading. It’s a common, but exceptionally great solution. Making the application modify the source code and show outcomes instantly. It enables developers to manage the complicated process in a time-saving manner. Therefore, hot reloading will speed up your automotive app development process.

• Top-Notch Performance

Flutter has the pre-built rendering engine Skia, which helps in seamless efficiency. It is the core tool to make Flutter for automotive apps with stunning performance. Having a robust rendering engine streamlines the development process and enriches it with performance-driven elements. Therefore, your application can be shown up with proficient performance without any load time hiccups. 

• Customizable UI 

The rich UI widgets and design elements will be of great aid. It somewhat eliminates the hassle of perfect UI solutions. You can unlock customizable widgets to redefine the Flutter app for automotive aspects. Moreover, you can even utilize the ready-to-use widgets. They are far more responsive and efficient. Thus, your in-vehicle app or automobile system will have user-friendly UI components. 

• Cross-Platform Compatibility

Flutter has the best-ever framework which offers a native-like feel for the automotive app. Kudos to its cross-platform compatibility, it doesn’t let you know the difference. Your automotive application will run seamlessly on both Android and iPhone users. Such an exceptional feature with exact native functionality is worthy of any automobile application.

• Google’s Support

The Google support encapsulated in the Flutter framework makes wonders. Automotive applications can reap the benefits of various Google integrations. From Gemini, and Firebase to Google Maps, Flutter is under the shed of the search engine giant. So, your app will be strengthened with a universal solution. 

On the other hand, it is also a superb solution for other industries as well. You can check out the blog on How Flutter’s help in different industries to Create Apps. But for automotive enterprises, the below-mentioned two are the early players in availing its benefits.

BMW & Toyota – Why Top Automotive Companies Using Flutter?

• Toyota

Earlier Toyota had built their in-vehicle technology in-house, but they need a refreshed outlook. Their motive to improve the infotainment systems has been to take a dig into Flutter’s aspects. By using Flutter’s embedded services, Toyota has enhanced its dashboard with a prominent on-screen experience. Its rendering engine has aligned with Toyota’s traditional app look with modern-age features. 

Additionally, Flutter’s Embedder API has made Linux-driven infotainment systems achieve new heights of success. With that, the team has expanded their Flutter fever to make in-house tools. Therefore, they have leveraged the Flutter framework inside-out for the further development process. As a result, Toyota has emerged as a future-ready automotive firm with a world-class system.

• BMW

Before choosing Flutter, BMW had been offering vehicle companion app services to iOS and Android users. But it has begun facing distinctions in the features on both platforms. Due to the separate development process, BMW Group wasn’t able to manage them. So, they need the best technology stack for mobile apps with the same functionality and maintainability. Accordingly, Flutter has come into the picture as they also don’t want to extend the development cost.

As Flutter has met their requirements, and BMW group has commended the development by rewriting app variants using a single codebase. Within a year, the MY BMW app was launched in 47 countries with a seamless mobile experience, Kudos to Flutter, it has transformed the development process with less turnaround time. Accordingly, BMW has more than 10,000 versions of every app variant. Now, the users are delightfully having a smooth app experience and performance and the team is also maintaining the upgrades with the shared codebase of Flutter.  

Aren’t these success stories of top automotive companies using Flutter exciting? You can also make it happen for your automotive firm. Just follow the following steps to build an automotive app with Flutter and accelerate in the industry verticals. 

How to Build an Automotive App With Flutter? 

• Illustrate Your Automotive App Needs

The Flutter automotive app or in-vehicle application needs you to prepare the whole project map. You have to skim through the projects’ obstacles and edges at this stage. The market demand, technology, designing, actual programming, competitors analysis, etc matters you have to consider. So, the proper planning and strategizing of your automotive Flutter app is crucial. Having clarity of your project requirements will smoothly prevent any hurdles ahead.   

• Define Flutter App Features 

Next, you should get your features list done. Because as your project enters the market, the initial customer validation through MVP is necessary. So, the icing on the cake is that Flutter for MVP development is again a worthwhile concept. 

From having a sloppy plan to fabricating the features, your automotive app development using Flutter should align with the customer’s demands. As the Flutter for embedded systems is already a celebrated solution, the basic features are quite obvious.

• Real-time operations
• In-car functionality
• Car dashboard UI
• Message alerts, etc.

However, Flutter’s embedders will make your application entail features to compel the audience smoothly.   

• UI & Design Selection 

Now, you have to dig into the user interface functionality. It ultimately becomes decisive to make a roaring feature showcase in your application. You just have to focus on the display and responsiveness to make attractive digital cockpits. 

The Flutter UI will be used for infotainment systems and companion mobile apps. Thus, your choice of designs has been complied with for both screens. With the Flutter embedded layer architecture, your Flutter automotive app development can accomplish a user-centric approach.

• Hire Flutter Developers for Development

Coming up you have to begin with hiring developers. Having the right resources for programming automotive applications is unavoidable. Hire Flutter app developers with hands-on experience in different industrial projects. 

Moreover, the automotive and infotainment systems are quite tricky areas of Flutter for embedded devices. However, you should ensure to interview developers about such software solutions. Accordingly, your application will be furnished, and the development steps. 

• Quality Testing & Deployment

As you have chosen Flutter for the automotive industry, your application will reap automated testing solutions. You can leverage the efficiency of software and its performance testing by having appropriate QA. Furthermore, Flutter for the automotive industry requires beta testing. It is about having an accurate verdict by getting feedback from real-time users. As an automotive Flutter app passes the quality standards and testing, it’s time to deploy the application. 

• Marketing & Maintain Further 

With a successful launch of your product, you can’t miss out on marketing campaigns or promotions. Although informing your existing or new users about the product is essential. Thus, Flutter’s exceptional designs and product icons can help in improved digital marketing. 

In the long term, you can consult Flutter developers to maintain and upgrade the application. Either by integrating new features, and tools or exploring emerging trends, you can now boost the app with the latest. Next, your thoughts must be flowing through about the Flutter automotive app development cost. So, here is the precise answer to it. 

What Would Be the Cost of Building Automotive Apps With Flutter?

When it’s about calculating the cost to develop the automotive Flutter app, you have to plan it wisely. There are plenty of factors which impact it in one way or the other. So, be sure to look into the following things;

• Project Scope
• Technology used
• Flutter developers’ location
• Feature set
• Time duration

With such things your overall cost shifts. However, it is advisable to outsource the app developers from countries like India. It will make your projects fall in the range of $10,000-$40,000. Thus, you must be particular while hiring resources and discussing needs. 

Connect with our Expert Flutter Developers

Having a proficient Flutter app development company for your automotive project makes the way easygoing. With Flutter for automotive applications, you need experienced providers. So, we can be your reliable partner in this regard. Our team has worked on such projects and attained success. Building automotive apps with Flutter shines your business in the future market. You can Schedule a Call for your automotive app development. It will be risk-free with in-depth strategizing on the project plan.