The two companies will collaborate on an automotive software platform. This includes creating a digital twin to virtually test advanced AI features. The two brands have already collaborated in the past to develop other systems.
A 4-year-old partnership
Since 2018, Google and the French car manufacturer Renault have been collaborating in the creation and design of cars. As a reminder, Renault is part of a conglomerate that also includes Nissan and Mitsubishi. It is the alliance that sells the most vehicles in the world. The partnership includes the use of the Android operating system for all the groups' cars.
In 2021, the two industry giants have developed an operating system for GPS, but also for entertainment features.
Operating system developed by Google in a Renault vehicle
Thus, several million cars then drive with Google's operating system. It is therefore possible to download applications via the Play Store directly in the passenger compartment. We can find for example the famous application Google Maps or personalized voice commands with Google Assistant.
The system is also compatible with other devices, such as Apple. Indeed, car manufacturers do not close and keep a wide choice of options for their customers.
New software in development
This new software for Renault cars will be based on the Android Automotive operating system. The cars will be defined by the software and will send data to Google's cloud servers for processing. Renault said Google has become "its preferred cloud provider".
The announcement leaked today (8 November) only concerns Renault brand vehicles. However, this includes the subsidiaries Dacia, Alpine and Mobilize. Other car manufacturers have preferred to move towards Amazon Web Services, this is the case of the German brand BMW.
This information is a little more technical than the previous ones since we speak here of "digital twin". Concretely, the 2 firms will create "a virtual carbon copy of a vehicle with advanced artificial intelligence capabilities for easier and continuous integration of new services into the vehicle and the creation of new in-car and outboard applications".
Renault and Google have said that this collaboration will improve the operation of the vehicle. Indeed, thanks to the engineers of both companies, the software will be subject to new tests and thus improve artificial intelligence. The car's diagnostics can be carried out in real time and the information processed immediately.
New technology ubiquitous in new cars
Even if we don't have flying cars yet, technologies continue to be more efficient in automobiles. The new software from Renault and Google will let us know when the car needs to be serviced. Certainly, many vehicles already have this option, but the software will also be able to repair some problems itself.
In other words, vehicle users will be able to have a personalized experience on driving, frequently used destinations and loading locations. Finally, it will be possible to have insurance contracts adapted to the statistics of the vehicle thanks to the data collected.
This kind of software is developed to compete directly with the leader of the electric car Tesla. Indeed, the company of the whimsical billionaire Elon Musk has succeeded in identifying the needs of users of electric cars.
Nowadays, software and electronics are an indisputable selling point for users. Thus, it is normal to see car manufacturers investing millions in this area. In addition, it can improve the life of the vehicle and decrease maintenance that takes time and money for drivers.
The web giant has been trying to establish itself in the automotive sector for more than ten years. However, his efforts were somewhat hampered by cars worried about competition. However, Google has managed to bend the major brands to its will, including Ford, GM, Volvo, Honda and now Renault.
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