DETROIT - Google Maps has been working with Ford and OnStar on navigation capabilities that can send driving directions directly from the Web to Ford and General Motors vehicles, the automakers announced this week.

On Ford/Lincoln/Mercury models, the new capability is called "Send to SYNC" and uses the Ford SYNC with Traffic, Directions & Information (TDI) technology.

When Ford users visit Google Maps on the web to find locations, they will have the option to send a selected destination to their vehicle via a "send" menu on the site. Once in the vehicle, the driver connects to SYNC TDI using the "Services" voice command, and when prompted, confirms the request to download the Google Maps destination into the vehicle, according to Ford.

For General Motors vehicles, OnStar subscribers can search for and identify destinations using Google Maps and send those destinations to the Turn-by-Turn Navigation Service in their vehicles. Drivers can access the destinations whenever they choose and get OnStar Turn-by-Turn directions to the destination from wherever they are.

The Google Maps "Send to SYNC" and OnStar eNav capabilities launch later this month, according to the manufacturers.

Ford previously announced the same feature for MapQuest (owned by AOL), which will launch later this year.

OnStar and Google also recently demonstrated mobile mapping and location functions for the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle that leverage the Google Android platform.