Stellantis Ditches Amazon for Google’s Android in In-Car Tech Shift
In a significant shift in automotive technology, Stellantis is ending its in-car software partnership with Amazon and pivoting to Google’s Android-based system. This move comes three years after Stellantis initially announced its collaboration with Amazon to integrate connected products and services into its vehicles by 2024, aiming to generate $22.5 billion annually from software-related ventures.
According to a Reuters report, the partnership is “winding down,” with Amazon staff previously assigned to the project being reassigned or leaving the company. Stellantis has confirmed this report, informing TechCrunch of its strategic pivot.
Despite the end of this specific collaboration, Stellantis maintains that “Amazon remains a valuable partner,” and the two companies will continue to collaborate on other initiatives. Notably, Stellantis will continue to utilize Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its primary cloud provider for vehicle platforms, and Amazon’s Alexa will remain available in Stellantis vehicles.
In December 2021, Stellantis outlined an ambitious plan to have 34 million connected cars on the road by 2030, envisioning a new revenue stream beyond traditional vehicle sales. This plan involved partnerships with several tech giants, including BMW, Foxconn, Waymo, and Amazon.
The strategy to monetize in-car software through products and subscriptions was structured around three core components. The first was STLA Brain, an underlying electrical and software architecture. The second, STLA SmartCockpit, was intended as a platform for delivering applications such as navigation, voice assistance, e-commerce, and personalized in-vehicle experiences. The third component, AutoDrive, was an automated driving platform developed in collaboration with BMW.
Amazon was initially tasked with assisting Stellantis in developing the STLA SmartCockpit, focusing on technology that would adapt to customer behaviors and interests to provide personalized services. However, Stellantis is now moving forward with Google’s Android-based system for its smart cockpit platform, aligning with a growing trend among automakers.
This strategic shift indicates Stellantis’s evolving approach to in-car technology, prioritizing a widely adopted and versatile platform like Android to enhance its connected vehicle offerings.
