Ring Unveils Dashboard Camera at CES After Long Wait

Amazon.com Inc.'s Ring division has finally introduced its first car dashboard camera, after a two-year delay. This move expands the company's reach beyond home security, into a new category altogether.

The new Ring Car Cam can record both inside and outside of the vehicle, giving drivers a complete view of their surroundings. The product also has sensors to detect motion within the vehicle and external disturbances, such as when the car is hit or broken into. With this device, drivers can feel confident knowing that they have a complete record of everything that happens while they're on the road.

The debut of the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 marks a long-awaited expansion for Ring, which Amazon acquired in 2018. The product provides the division with another way to attract consumers after years of selling smart doorbells and home-security cameras. The Pro 2 was first unveiled back in 2020 and offers a number of features that make it a great choice for home security, including 1080p HD video, two-way audio, and advanced motion detection.

The monitor is compatible with the Ring app, allowing users to view a live video feed as well as communicate with two-way audio. The app can also receive alerts if a sensor is triggered.

Amazon is betting that internet-connected vehicles and accessories represent an opportunity to extend the reach of the Alexa voice assistant and compete with driving-focused features of Alphabet Inc. and Apple Inc. smartphones. The company sells a device called Echo Auto that puts Alexa on the dashboard, and it has struck deals with automakers like Ford Motor Co. to embed the software within car entertainment systems.

In an interview, Ring Chief Technology Officer Josh Roth said the new dash-cam device has a privacy shutter that can disable audio and video recording inside the car. It uses a similar approach as Tesla Inc.'s Sentry Mode, which can record external events like car accidents. Ring had announced plans in 2020 for a Car Connect device that would allow a Tesla to send its video feed to the Ring app, but Roth said that feature has been canceled.

The Car Cam is a device that plugs into a vehicle’s OBD-II port for power and connects to the windshield via a sticker. The device can store seven hours of camera footage and then sync it over Wi-Fi to a phone. Ring is also offering a $6-per-month or $60-per-year plan to enable LTE network access, which will send alerts and notifications without a Wi-Fi connection and move video to the cloud automatically.

The car camera has limited voice control via Alexa. It can be triggered to begin recording during certain scenarios, such as a traffic stop.

The company has not disclosed why the product was delayed for more than two years, other than to say that it did not feel like the camera was ready for market. Ring had also announced plans for a car alarm two years ago, but it now says that this is on hold.

The new device will be available for preorder at a discounted price of $200, beginning Thursday. The launch will be exclusive to the US at the start, Ring said.

The company is also re-introducing its Peephole Cam, a video doorbell that can be installed over door peepholes. This accessory will also go on sale Thursday, and will cost $130.