Stellantis Chooses Android Automotive: Amazon Partnership Ends

Stellantis Shifts Strategy for In-Car Software

Initially, Stellantis announced a collaboration with Amazon three years ago, aiming to integrate connected software and services into its vehicles by 2024. This initiative was part of a larger strategy to generate $22.5 billion in annual revenue through software offerings.

However, the anticipated outcome did not materialize. Recent reports indicate that the partnership is now being dissolved, with Amazon personnel assigned to the project either reassigned or having departed the company.

Transition to Android Automotive

Stellantis has confirmed these reports and announced a shift towards an Android-based system for its in-car software. This represents a significant change in direction for the automaker’s connected car strategy.

Despite the winding down of the specific collaboration, Amazon will maintain its role as a partner for Stellantis in other areas. The company will continue to leverage Amazon Web Services as its primary cloud provider for vehicle platforms.

Ambitious Connected Car Goals

In December 2021, Stellantis unveiled an ambitious goal to have 34 million connected cars on the road by 2030. This plan envisioned a new revenue stream extending beyond traditional vehicle sales.

To achieve this target, Stellantis forged partnerships with key industry players, including BMW, Foxconn, Waymo, and Amazon.

The Three-Component Plan

The original strategy for monetizing in-car software relied on three core components.

• STLA Brain: This served as the foundational electrical and software architecture.
• STLA SmartCockpit: A platform designed to deliver applications to drivers, encompassing navigation, voice assistance, e-commerce, payment services, and personalized experiences.
• AutoDrive: An automated driving platform developed in collaboration with BMW.

Amazon’s Role and the Shift

Amazon was specifically engaged to enhance the STLA SmartCockpit, focusing on technology that would personalize services based on customer behavior and preferences.

Stellantis remains committed to its smart cockpit platform. The integration of Google’s Android system, already adopted by numerous automakers, is now expected to power this future software platform.

The move signifies a recalibration of Stellantis’s approach to in-car software, prioritizing a widely-used and established operating system.