Google’s Android to underpin Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi infotainment

The list of manufacturers planning to use Google for their infotainment systems has grown from two to five, with Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi announcing Android will underpin its alliance-wide infotainment system from 2021.

Under a new agreement, vehicles in the alliance will rely on Android for their infotainment, opening the door for Google Maps integration, among other Google Play apps designed specifically in-car operation.

It also means your next Mitsubishi, Renault or Nissan could offer 'Okay Google' voice operation, just as Mercedes-Benz and BMW are pushing into their own voice-based control systems.

"Our partnership with Google will offer owners of our vehicles rich user experiences that are currently available only outside the vehicle or, to a limited extent, by connecting an Android device to supported vehicles," said Hadi Zablit, senior vice president of business development at Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi.

"We are building powerful connected and seamless on-board/off-board experiences into our vehicles in addition to the features of Google applications and services that many users are accustomed to, including Google Maps, the Google Assistant and the Google Play Store."

Although details haven't been supplied, we'd suggest each manufacturer will offer a slightly different interpretation of the software, given the alliance has placed maintaining unique brand identities atop its list of priorities.

Volvo and Audi have announced Android will form the base of their next infotainment systems. Each will give their systems a unique look and feel, and each will maintain their own unique combination of physical, voice and touch-based inputs, but the behind-the-scenes code will have its roots in Android.

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