Renault and Google have been working together for almost four years now. For customers, this takes the form, for example, of the implementation of Android Automative on the new Mégane E-Tech. But the two companies clearly have no intention of stopping in such a good way, and that is the whole purpose of their announcement on Tuesday.
The idea is thus to design the smart vehicle of the future that will rely on both the best of the automobile and digital technology. The Android Automotive operating system will thus be used, as well as the Google Cloud service.
Renault is closing in on another tech giant
This will materialize by setting up a “digital twin” based on AI in order to provide the car with constant updates and new applications. More specifically, Renault will thus be able to refine the vehicle’s maintenance needs, but also improve the on-board user experience by providing expert advice to motorists and simplifying their lives.
But the French manufacturer will also gain from it, since this collaboration also aims to reduce development costs, while improving efficiency and flexibility during vehicle design.
Note that Renault specifies that all data collected on its customers will be completely secure and that these practices will respect their privacy. This information will be of particular interest to Nissan. According BFM-TV, the Japanese have indeed requested guarantees from the management of Renault and intend to protect their intellectual property on electric car technologies. If the balance of power is clearly in favor of Renault, intense negotiations are underway, while the automotive group is in the process of reorganizing in depth.
In a statement, Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault, also specified that this partnership with Google will help his company to accelerate “ its end-to-end digital transformation, from car design to production and market launch “.
At the same time, we also learned that Renault and Qualcomm have decided to deepen their relationship with Ampere, Renault’s new electrical and software subsidiary. The idea is to co-develop a centralized electronic architecture on electric vehicles based on the Snapdragon Digital Chassis.
The French manufacturer is obviously not the only one to want to integrate digital technology into its vehicles. This is also particularly the case for Volkswagen, which intends to become the world leader in software-based mobility by 2030. In an interview he gave us, the group’s director of innovation, Nikolai Ardey, specified:
It’s a big change. From my point of view, this is the strongest and fastest transformation we have encountered so far. (…) You have to start with software. Companies like ours need to focus on software. And from there, design the applications, the interface, connect everything to the cloud… and then finally integrate hardware components. Basically, it’s exactly like a smartphone brand.
Renault gives itself the means to succeed in the electric market
As we can see, Renault clearly has no intention of missing its switch to electric. We have also just learned that the manufacturer is aiming for a valuation of around 10 billion euros for its new Ampère activity, with an IPO on the Paris Stock Exchange next year.
The company has also just unveiled its new electric charging stations. The deployment of these new ultra-fast terminals, which will potentially be able to reach a power level of 400 kW, should be completed by mid-2024. It is Mobilize, the subsidiary of the French group specializing in new mobility, which is in charge of this operation. If you are interested in the subject, you can also read our article on the subject here.
