The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Microsoft have signed an agreement to develop next-generation connected car technologies.
According to the companies, the new services will improve customer experiences via predictive maintenance alerts, remote monitoring of car features, over-the-air updates and advanced navigation.
Renault-Nissan previously announced it intends to launch more than 10 vehicles with autonomous technology by 2020 with the connected car services aiming to maximise better use of in-car free time.
The Alliance said it selected Microsoft thanks to a high-level of security and its “rigorous commitment to security” as well as its Azure cloud computing platform supporting multiple operating systems which can allow the firms to build a common platform for Renault and Nissan.
Microsoft said the partnership will accelerate development of media and location-based services that will:
- Allow users to personalise and transfer settings from one vehicle to another.
- Increase productivity in the car by “seamlessly integrating the digital experiences of work and life into the car”.
- Give access to over-the-air updates, like Tesla currently offers.
- Allow motorists to give estimated times of arrival to friends or colleagues, while the car will be able to process automatic payments for parking and road tolls at the push of a button.
- Monitor the car from a distance by using an app that can remotely recharge EVs or transfer control of the vehicle to a colleague without having to pass over keys.
- Protect the vehicle with tracking software which can locate and disable it at the earliest opportunity, while geofencing technology will be able to create invisible fences that can enable notifications when the vehicle enters or exits a route
“A car is becoming increasingly connected, intelligent and personal,” said Ogi Redzic, Renault-Nissan Alliance senior vice-president of connected xehicles and mobility services. “Partnering with Microsoft allows us to accelerate the development of the associated key technologies needed to enable scenarios our customers want and build all-new ones they haven’t even imagined. We aim to become the provider of connected mobility for everyone with one single global platform.”