Open source for open top.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/popculturegeek/4534097974 creative commons

Car manufacturers are some of the largest industrial organizations on the planet. They control everything within their sphere of influence, from the design of the smallest component to the interface which controls the car. This interface has begun to change, as drivers give more control of the vehicle to computer systems the computer and the software it runs becomes more important. Car builders do not want to give up control of what may in the future define the car. By allowing Apple or Android to take the lead in designing the interface, the car industry may become similar to PC manufacturers. Building devices, but having no control over the interaction of the customer with the device.
Ford is attempting, by designing its own software, to first take control of the interface and to secondly become a technology company. Only the future will tell if it is easier to become a technology company rather than a manufacturer. I look forward to trying a Ford Linux.