Amazon today revealed a new version of the Echo Auto(Opens in a new window), which hasn’t seen an upgrade since it first launched in 2018. The company has made some key enhancements, as well as raised the price.

The new Echo Auto has a slimmer, vertically oriented design and a new adhesive mount, which allows for more flexible placement inside the car. The previous version included a clip-on mount for air vents, which did not work on all vent shapes.

New version of the Echo Auto.
(Credit: Amazon)

That smaller form factor means fewer microphones (five versus eight on the first-gen Echo Auto), but Amazon says it improved voice-detection capabilities so the Echo Auto can “hear your requests over music, the air conditioner, and road noise.” It connects to a car’s speakers via Bluetooth or direct connection via USB on cars that don’t support(Opens in a new window) Bluetooth with Echo Auto.

Cord to plug in the Echo Auto inside the car.

At a Wednesday press event, Amazon touted its partnership with BMW, which announced(Opens in a new window) that its next-generation BMW voice assistant will be built on Alexa technology. Customers will be able to use the BMW voice assistant and Alexa individually or together.

Amazon also said Echo Auto can alert you if it notices you left the house without securing smart locks; Alexa will lock them remotely on command. It can also contact roadside assistance.

For Whole Foods shoppers, Echo Auto can notify you about curbside pick-up orders. Say, “Alexa, check into Whole Foods,” and Alexa will deliver instructions on where to park and how to notify employees that you’ve arrived at the Amazon-owned grocery store.

“We believe that going forward, cars will be defined more by their software than their motors,” Amazon says.

Amazon did not mention when the upgraded Echo Auto will be available; for now, you can sign up to be notified(Opens in a new window) when it goes on sale. But it’ll set you back $54.99, up from $49.99. The brand also announced three new versions of the Echo Dot today—the Echo Dot, Echo Dot with Clock, and Echo Dot for Kids, which are available for pre-order.

Echo Auto is a key component of Amazon’s vision to bring voice technology to every room of the home and into the car. “A true ambient experience is there to simplify your day-to-day life when you need it, and fades into the background when you don’t,” says Nedim Fresko, VP of Amazon Alexa Devices. “This generation of Echo devices are designed with this vision in mind.”