Tag Archives: software

Why Would ‘Renault’ Partner With ‘Google’ Knowing That ‘Google’ Totally Screwed Volvo In 2021/2022?

by Anura Guruge
on November 12, 2022

Click to **ENLARGE**. Story on left is from ‘***CNBC.com***‘. For my ***May 2022 post*** re. my accursed Volvo XC60.

The Google software on 2022 Volvos, e.g., the XC60, has been an unmitigated disaster. It has been painfully chronicled on the Internet. The entire automotive industry knows about what happened. Google had no idea how to make RELIABLE, RESILIENT software. Their software is OK on a PC or phone where you can afford to have some hiccups. But, that is NOT the case with a car. Software problems on cars can KILL. I am sure Google’s software on Volvos must have, by now, contributed to multiple accidents. Of course, Volvo nor Google, is going to make it easy for us to find out.

It is true that Renault is totally irrelevant in the U.S. It fled the U.S. in 1987 — its tail between its legs. No great loss now — & they will be even worse after this ill-fated relationship with Google. My adoptive parents lived in France for over 17-years in the late 1970s. I was living in the U.K. Between us we owned a number of Renaults, I a Renault 17 & my parents a couple of 25s. They were good cars. But this was over 35 years ago. Renault is now a non-entity. A no-op.

So, maybe they were really, really desperate. You would have to be to partner with Google knowing that Google essentially sabotaged Volvo.

Volvo’s New Google-Based ‘Infotainment’ System, Will Not Have ‘Android Auto’ Or ‘Apple CarPlay’ Support Till 1Q2022!

2 Replies

by Anura Guruge
on August 9, 2021

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Please check this latest update — based on hands on experience.

Click image to access this ***November 4, 2021 post***.

As with the lack of ‘Sirius XM’ radio support, this is NOT a joke. This is too serious a matter to kid about.

That a Google Android-based system cannot support ‘Android Auto’ sounds like an oxymoron. Alas, it is NOT. This is reality. IF you buying a new 2022 Volvo (as I am) check with Volvo or a Dealer. [I feel bad for the Dealers. This is outside their control & they are, obviously, not too amused. This might even cost some of them some sales.]

From what I gather, this delay, especially when it comes to Android Auto might be ‘contractual‘, i.e., Google not being able to offer support for Android Auto ahead of ‘Apple CarPlay’. Apple might have grounds to complain & the European Union (EU) is already giving Google plenty of grief about its monopolistic practices. So, Google has to be seen as playing fair.

Well, for I, with my 40-year background in the computer industry this is but deja vu (all over again). Modern cars have become computers on wheels, so reliant on software. We all know about software updates — whether it be computers, phones, smartwatches, set-top units or even TVs. Now the game has moved to cars.

With this new Google Android infotainment system Volvo can do ‘over-the-air’ (OTA) software updates.

As with Sirius XM, support for Android Auto & Apple CarPlay will be added via such an OTA update.

Purely by coincidence YouTube offered me this video as a recommendation today. I haven’t had chance to watch it all, but he appears to be far from happy about the new system. YIKES. I have already ordered my new 2022 Volvo XC60 — with a November 2021 delivery (with luck).