Google closes big deal with car manufacturer and brings Android to cars

By 2021, millions of cars worldwide will have media displays powered by Google’s Android OS. To this end, the technology company has partnered with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, which sells more cars than any other car manufacturer’s collective.

Within the cooperation it has been agreed that Google will build the operating system that will be used for entertainment and GPS systems. These new systems also provide voice command support for apps via Play Store, Google Maps navigation and the Google Assistant. In the future, the Google Assistant, which uses Google’s leading AI technology, could become the main way for customers to interact hands-free with their vehicles, says Kal Mos of the car manufacturers.

Decade of efforts

The Wall Street Journal reports that Google has been trying to gain a foothold in the car market for more than a decade. These attempts have so far been unsuccessful, because car companies see Google and other tech companies mainly as competitors who want to collect user data and make a profit from it.

This is why many car manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz and BMW, have developed their own GPS systems and rolled them out to their vehicles. But those systems are not always as well made and know their mistakes. Since relatively many drivers already use their phone as a navigation system, Google systems are already being used. For this reason, car manufacturers may now want to change their tack anyway.

Gigantic range

The potential range of Googles system for cars is huge. Last year, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance sold 10.6 million vehicles worldwide. In 2018, the same amount is expected to be sold, because on 30 June the alliance announced that it has sold 5.54 million cars so far this year. The alliance expects to sell 14 million of them by 2022.