Under the technology
partnership, vehicles sold by the Alliance members in many markets will utilise
Android, the world’s most popular operating system, and will provide
turn-by-turn navigation with Google Maps, access to a rich ecosystem of
automotive apps on the Google Play Store and have the ability to answer calls
and texts, control media, find information, and manage vehicle functions with
voice using the built in Google Assistant.
The Alliance, whose member
companies last year sold 10.6 million vehicles in 200 markets, will integrate
Google applications and services into infotainment and cloud-based systems to
enhance the experience for customers of Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors
brands. While a range of Alliance vehicles will share the Android platform,
each brand will have flexibility to create a unique customer interface and
specific features on top of the common Android platform.
The infotainment partnership
forms part of Alliance moves to equip more vehicles with connectivity and
cloud-based services as part of its Alliance 2022 mid-term plan. Today’s
announcement, coinciding with the first anniversary of the mid-term plan,
symbolises the Alliance focus on next-generation technology. Under the plan,
Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi is targeting increased sales of more than 14 million
units a year by the end of 2022.
The plan also involves the
launch of 12 new zero-emission electric vehicles, new autonomous-driving
technologies and the ongoing rollout of the Alliance Intelligent Cloud.
The Alliance Intelligent Cloud
will provide next-generation infotainment systems with secure connectivity by
offering a platform to integrate data management, infotainment systems and to
facilitate over-the- air upgrades and remote diagnostics in Alliance
member-company vehicles.
By combining the latest
technologies from the Alliance and Google, the Alliance member companies’
vehicles will have one of the most intelligent infotainment systems in the
market.
Drivers and passengers will be
able to leverage Google and Android’s capabilities to access an ecosystem that
includes thousands of existing applications and an ever-expanding array of new
apps. This integration, combined with the broad knowledge and a vibrant
community of developers, will enable easy in-vehicle access to popular
applications. The system will also be compatible with devices running other
operating systems, such as Apple iOS.
Hadi Zablit, Senior Vice
President of Business Development at Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, said, “Our
partnership with Google will offer owners of our vehicles rich user experiences
that are currently available only outside the vehicle or, to a limited extent,
by connecting an Android device to supported vehicles. We are building powerful
connected and seamless on-board / off-board experiences into our vehicles in
addition to the features of Google applications and services that many users
are accustomed to, including Google Maps, the Google Assistant and the Google
Play Store.”
Kal Mos, Global Vice President
of Alliance Connected Vehicles at Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, added, “With the
integration of the Android platform into our infotainment systems, we are
adding a new level of intelligence to our connected vehicles. In the future,
the Google Assistant, which employs Google’s leading AI technology, can become
the main way customers interact with their vehicles, hands-free. With Google
Maps and the Google Assistant embedded in Alliance infotainment systems, our
customers will have some of the most advanced AI based applications at their
fingertips. And with in-vehicle access to the Google Play Store, our customers
will enjoy an open and secure ecosystem of Android apps engineered for
vehicles.”
Hiroshi Lockheimer, Senior
Vice President of Platforms & Ecosystems at Google, said, "Google and
Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi share a common vision of delivering an intelligent,
safe and seamless in-car experience with apps and services that are familiar,
upgradable and connected. We’re thrilled to partner with
Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi to bring the Google Assistant, Google Maps, and other
popular apps via the Play Store and Android to drivers and passengers around
the world."
Source: Renault Nissan