- SmartCockpit was supposed to integrate Alexa and Amazon services but is now winding down.
- The project cancellation leaves Stellantis reconsidering its in-car tech strategy moving forward.
- Stellantis could switch to Android-based systems for its future in-car technology solutions.
In 2022, Stellantis and Amazon announced a partnership that would see the carmaker’s ‘SmartCockpit’ system use Amazon’s in-car technology. However, just over three years later, the project is “winding down,” although the two companies say they will continue to collaborate on other initiatives.
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On paper, the partnership seemed like a good idea. By using Amazon’s technology, Stellantis would have been able to deliver a software package connected to the Amazon ecosystem, including an Alexa-enabled voice assistant, e-commerce platform, and would allow drivers to interact with Amazon devices at home, meaning they could turn on lights remotely.
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It was hoped that the first Stellantis products with the SmartCockpit would arrive in late 2024 or early 2025. The automaker was set to pay Amazon for access to the software in each vehicle, while Amazon would pay Stellantis incentive fees if drivers signed up to its services through their vehicles, like Amazon Music. The data was then going to be stored through Amazon Web Services.
An investigation from Reuters uncovered the unravelling of the project, but the outlet hasn’t been able to identify why the partnership has ended. According to the companies, the cancellation “will allow each team to focus on solutions that provide value to our shared customers and better align with our evolving strategies.” They added that they will “continue to work together on a range of initiatives.”
While Stellantis and Amazon are no longer working on the SmartCockpit together, Stellantis will continue to use Amazon Web Services. Additionally, Alexa will remain active in some of its existing vehicles. Unnamed sources suggest Stellantis could switch its SmartCockpit system to be based on the Android operating system.
When the partnership was first announced, Stellantis’s then-CEO Carlos Tavares said it would make the brand’s vehicles “the most wanted, most captivating place to be, even when not driving.”
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