VW Makes Driving Fun Again with SmileDrive App

Published 13 years ago — by Lisa Federico

SmileDrive in a VW

SmileDrive app in my VW Jetta
Photo Credit: Lisa M. Rickard

Last week Volkswagen launched SmileDrive, an Android app which tracks your road trip and turns it into a fun game.

SmileDrive works by syncing the Bluetooth connection in your vehicle to the app, which is linked with your Google account. SmileDrive keeps track of your road trip and notes everything from the weather outside to the time and distance of your trip.

As you journey down the road you can unlock stickers for special achievements, such as long-distance trips and traveling on a holiday.

For VW motorists, you get “punch buggies,” or “punch dubs,” when you pass another VW on your trip who has SmileDrive. Once your trip ends you receive a Smile Score totaling the summary of your drive.

For trips you want to save and share with family and friends, you can make a Smilecast. Smilecasts tie in a social component so family and friends can follow and be updated of your road adventure online through photos, maps and more. You can even tag your passengers on your trip.

The best part about SmileDrive is that it connects with any vehicle as long as you can pair it with Bluetooth connectivity, oh and it’s free.

Another cool thing: There’s a “Find my Car” feature to help you get directions to your vehicle’s last parked location.


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