The first Microsoft Connectivity vehicles to become available later this year

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, the world’s leading automotive alliance, announced that they will be debuting two new vehicles this year with its new Alliance Intelligent Cloud. The service, which was developed by Redmond and the three headed auto alliance, is built using Microsoft’s Azure platform, and will utilize AI, IoT, and the cloud to provide specific services based on the vast amounts of data that it collects from all of its connected vehicles. The auto group plans to use the Intelligent Cloud in nearly all of the 200 markets that it services, and 90% of its new vehicles to be connected to it by 2022.

“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.” said Global VP of Alliance Connected Vehicles Kal MOs.

The first two vehicles to use the cloud technology will be the redesigned Renault Clio and the Nissan Leaf electric car in Japan and Europe respectively. Because of the service, these vehicles will have access to the internet, infotainment, remote diagnostics, other software, and firmware updates.

“This will have a huge impact on the customer experience,” says Mos. “All this will help us design the car better and better meet customer needs.”

Microsoft is also working with other auto manufacturers like BMW and Volvo on connectivity, but currently has no exact window to bring them to the market. The third automaker, Mitsubishi is currently in talks to bring its own cloud connected vehicle to the market as well. There’s no date set on when the technology would show up in other markets like the US, but we’ll be sure to keep the article updated as more information becomes available.

You can read more about the Alliance Intelligent Cloud here.