Stellantis finally bets on Android Automotive

Deep changes are shaking Stellantis since the departure of Carlos Tavares, and the appointment of Antonio Filosa at the head of the group is not expected to slow down this dynamic. Among the less publicized developments, the abandonment of a standalone approach for infotainment systems in favor of Android Automotive integration marks a major strategic shift.

Stellantis and infotainment: from solo ambition to market reality

Three years ago, Stellantis grandly announced a software revolution through the SmartCockpit project, the result of an ambitious collaboration with Amazon. The objective was clear: to transform the in-car experience into a rolling commercial hub, generating billions of dollars in annual revenue through a multitude of dedicated connected services. Connected navigation, voice assistance, an integrated marketplace, payment services, and advanced personalization were at the heart of this audacious vision. Amazon was expected to bring its software expertise and ecosystem, promising to make the cabin an extension of the connected home. Stellantis was then banking on $22.5 billion in annual revenue from connected services and projected 34 million connected vehicles by 2030.

However, promises clashed with a much less glamorous reality. The SmartCockpit project never truly took off. Amazon teams were reassigned or left, concrete deliverables were delayed, and the timeline was pushed back repeatedly. Initially planned to equip models by the end of 2024, SmartCockpit never saw the light of day. Personalization ambitions, such as driver detection, automatic settings, or home automation integration with Alexa, remained at the communication stage. The unexpected departure of CEO Carlos Tavares, a 40% drop in Stellantis' stock in 2024, and disappointing sales in North America ultimately sealed the project's fate. Faced with these setbacks, Stellantis was forced to make a radical choice: abandon the exclusive infotainment partnership in favor of a solution already proven in the market. This decision, though surprising after such announcements, reflects the group's willingness to adopt a more pragmatic approach.

Android Automotive: the choice of efficiency and user experience

Following the failure of the SmartCockpit project, Stellantis made a major strategic shift by turning to Android Automotive, Google's operating system. This choice is part of a pragmatic and efficiency-driven approach, as evidenced by its adoption by many other major manufacturers such as Volvo, Renault, Audi, and General Motors. It is crucial not to confuse Android Automotive with Android Auto; the former is a complete operating system that manages the entire vehicle's infotainment, from navigation to voice control, connected services, and third-party applications, while the latter is an application that projects the smartphone interface onto the car's screen.

There are multiple reasons why Stellantis chose Android Automotive. Technically, this system offers a mature and robust environment, benefiting from the support of millions of developers and a proven software base. This significantly accelerates the deployment of personalized services, over-the-air (OTA) software updates, and integrates advanced features such as navigation management, multimedia, connectivity, and voice assistants like Gemini or Alexa. For customers, the benefits are tangible: an intuitive and familiar interface, access to a vast ecosystem of third-party applications, regular updates ensuring access to the latest features, and a fluid and consistent user experience. While Stellantis has not yet decided on the option of a customized software overlay based on Android AOSP (Android Open Source Project), similar to BMW or Porsche, simply relying on a common foundation like Android Automotive greatly simplifies the task for developers and helps catch up with players like Tesla, which master the software architecture of their vehicles end-to-end, or Chinese manufacturers like BYD.

Stellantis' initial ambition was to transform into a true "Tech-company," going beyond mere car manufacturing to become a major player in connected services. However, the setbacks of the SmartCockpit project highlighted the complexity and colossal investments required to master new technological territories. Developing a proprietary infotainment system from scratch, capable of competing with market leaders, proved to be a significant challenge for a traditional automotive manufacturer.

The adoption of Android Automotive represents an admission of pragmatism: it is sometimes more judicious to rely on existing and proven solutions when they offer unparalleled efficiency and maturity. Although the break is clear on the SmartCockpit aspect, Stellantis maintains ties with Amazon by continuing to use Amazon Web Services (AWS) for data storage and management, and Alexa will remain available on some models. The group also retains its STLA Brain technical architecture and its AutoDrive advanced driver-assistance system developed with BMW, and maintains its goal of 34 million connected vehicles by 2030. That said, this turnaround underscores the difficulty for traditional automakers to master the software revolution. Where Tesla, with a limited range, was able to build a proprietary software architecture, Stellantis must contend with the diversity of its brands and the heterogeneity of its suppliers. The automotive industry, facing the rise of embedded software for battery management, infotainment, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and on-demand subscription services, is struggling to keep pace with the new entrants from the tech world. By opting for Android Automotive, Stellantis is putting itself in the best position to offer its future customers a modern and reliable infotainment experience, expected in the group's vehicles in the coming months.venir.