Renault and Google to level up the software defined vehicles game

Google has been seriously making its way into some of the most developing fields, and one of them is the automobile. The Android Auto application that is used to mirror a phone’s features in your car is proof of the same. Not only this, but Android Automotive, which is an operating system, also provides Play Store support and built-in Google Assistant. In a recent update, Google is all set to take things a notch up in collaboration with French carmaker Renault to develop a ‘software-defined’ vehicle based on Android Automotive.

In the past, Google came into a partnership with Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance in 2018 to bring Android Automotive to several car variants created by one of the largest groups of companies. Talking about the latest agreement, Google will be Renault’s preferred cloud provider, and the brand will use Google’s cloud servers to develop a Digital Twin, an AI-powered virtual copy of a vehicle.

With integrated software development and testing, the companies are hoping to create a simulation where AI-powered features for the vehicle can be rolled out. A major component of the system comprises the ability to add new features to the vehicle’s repertoire via OTA updates. In an ideal situation, this kind of system can be used to facilitate real-time diagnostics of automotive issues.

The system could also provide a highly-personalized in-car software experience, similar to the way we customize Android according to our preferences. As suggested by Google and Renault, users will also get to see insurance models tailored to individual usage and driving behaviour, and cars adapting to how they are driven. We already saw a glimpse of what the whole scenario can bring in the automotive industry with the Polestar 2 in 2020.

Currently, the Renault-Google system of the future is being worked on and is no doubt an ambitious project. However, we can’t say a lot at this moment as the process is going to take a decent amount of time.

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