Amazon and Stellantis End SmartCockpit Partnership
The collaboration between Amazon and Stellantis to develop in-car software known as SmartCockpit is winding down, the companies confirmed to Reuters. This project aimed to transform the driving experience by making vehicles an extension of home through personalized settings for drivers.
The SmartCockpit initiative was announced in 2022 with the goal of creating features that would detect drivers and adjust settings such as the thermostat, navigation, and even home automation. Stellantis had hoped Amazon’s software expertise would help it compete with companies like Tesla and China’s BYD. For Amazon, the project was intended to serve as a prototype for potential wider rollout to other automakers.
The decision to end the partnership was mutual, according to the companies. They stated that the shift “will allow each team to focus on solutions that provide value to our shared customers and better align with our evolving strategies.” The exact reason for the partnership’s demise couldn’t be determined.
This development is the latest example of traditional automakers struggling to work with Silicon Valley to introduce more sophisticated vehicle software. Unlike Tesla, which has a simpler lineup and can quickly deliver new features, Stellantis manages dozens of models across 14 brands, increasing the complexity of implementing new software.
Initially planned for release in late 2024 to early 2025, SmartCockpit was part of Stellantis’s ABC platform, which included its electrical architecture called STLA Brain and Autodrive driver-assistance system. Under the agreement, Stellantis would pay Amazon for software access and maintenance fees, while Amazon would pay Stellantis incentive fees for services like music subscriptions.
Although the SmartCockpit project is ending, Stellantis will continue to use Amazon Web Services for data storage and updates. Alexa will also remain available in some Stellantis vehicles. The automaker may potentially continue work on SmartCockpit with another operating system like Google’s Android platform.
Most of Amazon’s Digital Cabin staff, internally known as ‘Project Quatro’, has been reassigned or left the company. The project’s goal was to create a rival to Google’s Automotive Services, the standard Android-based operating system used by many automakers.
