Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance Launches Own Cloud

Paul Myles

TU-Editor

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20th March 2019

Far from drifting apart following the sacking of its chief Carlos Ghosn, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance looks like forging even closer ties in the all-important data arena.

It has announced the formation of the Alliance Intelligent Cloud in a bid to consolidate its position in a automotive world rapidly becoming dominated by the connected car. The cloud will be built on the Microsoft Azure digital infrastructure and intended to service all the Alliance’s connected vehicles in the 200 global markets it serves.

The new data platform will first feature in both the new Renault Clio and the existing Nissan Leaf models produced for the European and Japanese markets from later this year.

This joint development efforts between the Alliance and Microsoft, is being heralded as the auto industry’s first global connected vehicle program deploying cloud, artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT technologies provided by Microsoft Azure. It is hoped the project will provide the carmakers with a data platform to securely capture, manage and analyze vehicle data to deliver consumer services based on the data created by their connected vehicles.

Features are expected to include remote services, proactive monitoring, connected navigation, connected assistance, over-the-air software updates and other customer tailored services. Further claims being made are that the Alliance Intelligent Cloud is capable of connecting vehicles with future smart cities infrastructure as it develops and with potential future partners.  It is also aimed at providing any future third-party service providers a single point of contact for potential partnerships.

Kal Mos, global vice-president of Alliance Connected Vehicles at Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, said: “Today we are deploying a vehicle connectivity platform that will transform the digital experience for customers of Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi. Through our collaboration with Microsoft, we are introducing the most powerful and far-reaching connected vehicle platform. Leveraging the size and scale of the Alliance, we have built an intelligent cloud platform that sets the pace for our industry.”

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_