BMW iX3 adds Alexa+, streaming features at CES 2026

BMW unveiled its new iX3 model at CES 2026, highlighting updated in-car technology and entertainment features.

The iX3 is the first BMW model to incorporate the next-generation Intelligent Personal Assistant, now powered by Amazon’s Alexa+.

This AI-based assistant allows users to control vehicle functions and access information through conversational voice commands, including the ability to ask multiple questions in a single sentence.

The Alexa+ integration will begin rolling out in Germany and the US from the second half of 2026, starting with vehicles using BMW Operating System 9 and X.

The iX3 also features enhanced entertainment options, including a video app for livestreaming content on the central display while the vehicle is parked, supported by platforms like Disney+ and TiVo.

🔗 Source: BMW

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

BMW’s Alexa+ rollout hinges on OS 9 and X adoption

BMW began shipping Operating System 9 in 2024 on entry models like the X1 or 2 Series Active Tourer, then expanded to the X2, next-gen 1 Series, and M5 Sedan 1.
Operating System 9 runs on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) for broader app support and better performance 1. It needs a new head unit (the in-car computer and display module), so cars on Operating System 8 cannot move to OS 9 with a software update 1. That hardware limits Alexa+ (Amazon’s upgraded in-vehicle voice assistant) to BMWs on OS 9 or Operating System X (BMW’s other current infotainment software used on select models). By 2027, BMW targets 40 new models and updates, so adoption will track replacement cycles.

Build in-car voice services with Amazon’s open-source Alexa Auto SDK

Alexa Auto SDK offers C++ and Java source for vehicle infotainment integration 2. It supports Android, Linux, and QNX (a real-time operating system widely used in embedded and automotive systems) 2.
Interfaces cover audio, media, telephony, and navigation, plus seat heaters and interior lights 3. Modules add Car Control, Custom Domain links with cloud skills (Alexa apps that run in the cloud), and Local Voice Control for offline use 4. Automakers and partners use the SDK APIs, then meet Amazon product requirements and pass automotive certification 3. To start, teams register an Alexa Voice Service product in an Amazon developer account and clone the SDK from GitHub 5.