Newsletter
Google and the Renault Group have announced a new partnership to build a “software-defined vehicle.” This vehicle will reportedly use Google’s Android Automotive operating system and can send data to the company’s cloud servers for processing.
This is not the first partnership between Google and Renault. Back in 2018, the Mountain-view-based tech company teamed up with the French automaker to form a four-year deal. The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance was supposed to use Android Auto and Google apps in the vehicles.
The new deal is in the continuation of the 2018 deal between the two companies, and it might lead to building a “software-defined vehicle.” Of course, only Renault and its sub-brands, including Dacia, Alpine, and Mobilize, can benefit from this collaboration with Google. The Japanese automakers Nissan and Mitsubishi are excluded from the deal.
Google will be Renault’s “preferred cloud provider.”
Many well-known automakers like BMW and Volkswagen Group are currently using Amazon Web Services. But Renault had decided to choose Google as its “preferred cloud provider.” While Google has not yet been able to build its own self-driving car, it has managed to convince major car companies to use Android Auto and its other services.
Google and Renault reportedly want to create a “Digital Twin” and build a vehicle that relies on artificial intelligence capabilities. The goal is to integrate “new services into the vehicle” and “the creation of new onboard (In-Car Services) and offboard applications.”
The final product will be a smart car that can tell the driver about its maintenance and rectify the problem. Additionally, AI capabilities can improve the vehicle’s operations through improved, real-time diagnostics. The driver can also create a personalized experience for driving behaviors, frequently visited destinations and EV charging locations. This AI-dependent vehicle can even benefit insurance companies through its data collection features.
When it comes to software-defined vehicles, Tesla is the most well-known company globally that can regularly update its vehicles, just like smartphones. As EVs and smart vehicles get more market share, more automakers are tapping into software-defined vehicles to compete with Tesla.