How do businesses show up on navigation systems? It’s the question every restaurant, retail shop, and service provider should be asking in 2025. With local SEO now tied directly to car GPS visibility, dashboards don’t just magically point drivers your way. Some nibble on Google Maps, others crave Yelp, and luxury rides get their sugar fix from HERE or TomTom.
If your business isn’t feeding these platforms with accurate, consistent data, you won’t appear on the screen. Even if the driver is parked right outside your door.
Why This Matters
- Google built-in is spreading fast: More cars ship with it each year, cutting phones out of the loop.
- Tourists rely on dashboards: Out-of-towners don’t search like locals, they follow in-car prompts.
- Reviews drive recommendations: Legacy systems lean on Yelp, while newer ones lean heavily on Google.
- No listing, no candy: Cars can’t serve up what they can’t find. So, if you’re not listed, the dashboard simply won’t suggest you.
Manufacturer Breakdown: Who Uses What
| Manufacturer | Popular Models | Infotainment | Data Source |
| Ford | F-150, Mustang Mach-E | SYNC 4 / 4A | TomTom + Yelp POIs |
| GMC | Sierra, Yukon | Google built-in | Google Maps |
| Chevrolet | Silverado, Tahoe | Google built-in | Google Maps (no CarPlay/AA in EVs) |
| Toyota | Camry, RAV4 | Entune (legacy sunset) → Toyota App | Yelp legacy → Apple Maps / Google via phones |
| Honda | Accord, CR-V | Google built-in (select trims) | Google Maps |
| BMW | 3 Series, X5 | iDrive | HERE + CarPlay/AA options |
| Mercedes-Benz | C-Class, GLE | MBUX → MB.OS | HERE + Google integrations |
| Audi | A4, Q7 | MMI / Audi connect | HERE + Google Places |
| Hyundai | Sonata, IONIQ | Bluelink | HERE base + Google Places API |
| Kia | Sorento, Telluride | UVO / ccNC | HERE base + Google Places API |
Translation: optimize Google Business Profile and Yelp if you want drivers to find you.
The Growing Market for In-Car Navigation in 2025
- There are an estimated 298.7 million registered motor vehicles in the U.S. in 2025 (all cars, trucks, SUVs, etc.).
- The average age of U.S. vehicles has grown to 12.8 years, meaning newer integrative systems are increasingly the norm for recent model owners.
- New vehicle sales in 2025 are expected to be around 16 million light vehicles (cars + light trucks) sold / registered.
Why These Stats Matter for Local SEO & Car GPS Visibility
- Each new vehicle is a potential mobile “search terminal” funneling its driver toward local businesses.
- Even older vehicles now use upgrades or phone projection features, making in-dash visibility standard rather than the exception.
- The sheer volume suggests that missing visibility in dashboards is missing tens or hundreds of thousands of search opportunities annually in metro markets like Tampa Bay.
- As more cars ship with native systems (versus relying solely on CarPlay/Android Auto), the demand will accelerate.
In practice, local SEO optimization is what makes you the answer to “find nearby” instead of being left off the screen.
Advanced SEO Techniques for In-Car Navigation
Sweet Local SEO Moves
Your Google Business Profile for local SEO is non-negotiable. Categories, attributes, menus, services, photos… fill it all in. On the flip side, Yelp SEO still matters, especially for Ford/Toyota legacy drivers. A sweet Yelp SEO strategy backed by steady reviews (or professional Yelp SEO services) keeps you in the mix.
Schema That Cars (and AI) Can Digest
Structured data tells machines exactly who you are, where you’re located, when you’re open, and what you sell. Think of it as candy-coated clarity for dashboards and AI assistants.
Voice Search Optimization
More and more drivers use voice commands instead of typing. Optimizing pages for conversational queries such as “open late restaurant near St. Pete Pier” creates an edge, especially when paired with local SEO tools that reveal the real phrases people say on the road.
Sprinkle on the Reviews
- Yelp reviews still influence Ford/Toyota drivers with older systems.
- Google reviews dominate for GMC, Chevy, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, and most luxury brands.
- Together, they shape your overall Google Business SEO reputation.
Future-Proofing Moves
- GM and Honda are phasing in Google built-in, no CarPlay needed.
- Toyota’s Entune app is sunset, making Apple Business Connect important for Apple Maps accuracy.
- Hyundai and Kia now lean on Google Places, so sloppy Google Business Profile SEO data means lost visibility.
The difference between invisible and irresistible comes down to one thing: whether businesses show up on navigation systems with the right data and reviews.
Visibility Readiness Checklist
Think your business stacks up in this dashboard check? If not, we should talk.
- Is your Google Business Profile SEO fully optimized (attributes, photos, services, posts)?
- Is your Yelp local SEO page accurately filled out and consistent with your Google listing?
- Do you have structured data (LocalBusiness, Menu/Service schema) embedded on your site?
- Are your pages optimized for voice/near-me queries, especially along major roads or neighborhoods tourists use?
- Do you have a review acquisition & response plan (Yelp + Google) tailored to dashboards’ reliance on reviews?
- Prepped for the shift to Google built-in and Apple Business Connect with ongoing optimization?
If you answered “NO” more than once, it’s time to get cyberlicious®.
Our job is simple: to make sure your business is the treat that pops up on dashboards, so drivers crave you and not your competitors.
