Las Vegas, San Francisco At the leading technology trade fair CES in Las Vegas last week, Google presented itself as a close partner of the automotive industry. A stage victory could now be pending for the US Internet company. Talks were being held with Porsche to bring Google’s software into the cockpit of the sports car in the future, the Reuters news agency and “Manager Magazin” reported on Thursday.
“Porsche is thinking about going its own way with the infotainment system and completely integrating Google,” Reuters quoted a person familiar with the consultations as saying. The sports car manufacturer would thus complete a U-turn. So far, the VW subsidiary had blocked extensive cooperation with the US group. The background is a feared loss of control over the data.
The group’s software subsidiary Cariad is already working on a group-wide solution with the Google Android platform. The individual brands could then use their software shelf. However, the full integration of Google is not up for debate for Volkswagen’s volume brands, the insider emphasized.
Google is pursuing two different approaches when it comes to car software
If the Porsche cooperation works, other group brands could also take over the Google apps, reported “Manager Magazin”, citing high-ranking managers. Volkswagen did not comment on the information. So far, no statement has been received from Porsche.
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A Google spokeswoman told Handelsblatt that there was a lot of interest in the company’s car software. “We’re working with partners from across the auto industry, but we don’t have any plans to announce at this time.”
The Google parent company is pursuing two different approaches for the industry. Under the name Android Auto, the company has been offering software since 2015 with which the content of smartphones with the Google operating system can be displayed on the screens in the car – such as the Google Maps map navigation.
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Since 2017, however, Google has also offered a complete operating system for vehicles under the name Android Automotive. It is permanently installed and can be used independently of Android smartphones.
The car brands Volvo from the Chinese Geely Group and Audi from Volkswagen were involved in the development. The Geely brand Polestar was among the first to deliver vehicles with Android Automotive to customers. General Motors, Renault, Nissan and Ford now also offer vehicles with a pre-installed Google system.
Volvo is the first carmaker to integrate an improved map system from Google.
(Photo: AP)
Google presented revised versions of its systems for vehicles in Las Vegas last week. Android Auto gets an overhauled design and is more closely merged with the Google Assistant. The system, which is permanently installed in vehicles, has the function that digital car keys can be shared.
In addition, the first vehicles such as the Volvo EX90 and the Polestar 3 will receive an improved version of Google’s map service. The software company promises that this will be even more detailed based on sensor data from the vehicle. “The HD map provides precise road details such as lane markings, signs and roadblocks in support of automakers’ assisted and autonomous driving technologies,” Google announced.
Apple and Chinese companies are also courting the auto industry
In addition to Google, other software companies are also pushing into the auto industry. With CarPlay, Apple offers a system comparable to Android Auto, which displays iPhone functions on the vehicle screens. For this year, Apple had announced a new version of CarPlay that should take control of all screens in the car. However, it has not yet been announced which models will support the system.
The Chinese technology groups Alibaba and Baidu offer comparable systems – so far, however, mainly with a focus on the People’s Republic.
According to “Manager Magazin”, there are still differences between Google and Porsche about the price and how deep the technology group can look into the Porsche data. According to the report, the background is the delays of Cariad in its own software projects.
Under the former CEO Herbert Diess, Volkswagen initially relied entirely on its own software development. When the multi-billion dollar project didn’t get off the ground as quickly as hoped, Cariad opened up. In the end, that didn’t help either.
Diess had to resign and was replaced by Oliver Blume, who now relies more on cooperation. He said earlier: “I’m open to partnerships. We don’t want to and can’t do everything ourselves. If there are good solutions on the market, then I don’t have to develop them again myself, but am faster with a proven partner.”
Collaboration: Lazar Backovic. With agency material
More: Blume’s liberation – The VW boss cashes in on the software strategy and reorganizes the group.