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When Android Automotive goes in the dash, Google wins — and automakers lose data

You've gotta hand it to Google for the way the Silicon Valley tech giant has made indelible inroads into the car on multiple fronts. The most obvious is with its pioneering self-driving car technology that's caused car companies to get their act together on autonomous vehicles — and also collaborate with Google. Google has more directly extended its influence and data-mining capabilities into the car with its Android Auto smartphone-projection platform that most major automakers have adopted along with Apple's CarPlay. And now it's preparing to dig even deeper into dashboards by deploying its open-source operating system, Android Automotive, beginning with Audi and Volvo. Volvo recently announced that its next-generation Sensus infotainment system will run Android Automotive as an OS and include Google's Play Store for cloud-based content, Maps for navigation and Google Assistant for voice recognition, which can even command a car's climate control. By embedding Google in the dash, Volvo says owners will get an improved connected experience. "Bringing Google services into Volvo cars will accelerate innovation in connectivity and boost our development in applications and connected services," Volvo senior vice president of R&D Henrik Green said in a statement. "Soon, Volvo drivers will have direct access to thousands of in-car apps that make daily life easier and the connected in-car experience more enjoyable." Having Android Automotive onboard could benefit drivers — and provide a big win for Google, since it opens a deep and lucrative new data-mining vein for the company. But it's a wave of a white flag for car companies when it comes to delivering their own cloud-based content and services. It also represents a massive data giveaway and, for Audi, a reversal of earlier reservations about letting Google get too much access to car data. Not long after Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were introduced in 2014 and most automakers eagerly embraced the technologies, several German automakers second-guessed their decision when they realized what was at stake: data. At a conference in Berlin in 2015, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler said car owners "want to be in control of their data, and not subject to monitoring." A few months earlier, Stadler stated that "the data that we collect is our data and not Google's.

Volkswagen forced to sell stake in Suzuki

The six-year-long failed marriage between Volkswagen and Suzuki has finally come to an end. Almost. An arbitration panel in London issued its final verdict which, according to a VW press release, cleared Suzuki in terminating the agreement, so VW now needs to get rid of its 19.9-percent share. However, the tribunal's decision said VW performed all of its obligations and Suzuki didn't – the Japanese carmaker should have given VW last-call rights for a delivery of diesel engines, but failed to. The breach opens Suzuki up to damage claim, but so far VW only says it reserves the right to sue. Now that Suzuki has an outside investor to provide funds it meant to get from VW, perhaps both can get back to their reasons for being. The press release is below. Ruling in arbitration proceedings: Cooperation between Volkswagen and Suzuki deemed terminated - Arbitral tribunal confirms Volkswagen met contractual obligations and finds that Suzuki has ordinary right to terminate agreement based on reasonable notice - Volkswagen to dispose of its 19.9 percent stake in Suzuki and expects positive effect on Company's earnings and liquidity from transaction - Arbitrators also find that Suzuki breached its contractual obligations to Volkswagen under the agreement and that Volkswagen has right to claim damages Wolfsburg, 30 August 2015 - An arbitral tribunal in London has announced its ruling in the dispute between Suzuki Motor Corporation and Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. As a result, cooperation between the two parties is deemed terminated. The arbitrators confirmed that Volkswagen met its contractual obligations under the cooperation agreement and found that Suzuki has terminated the agreement upon reasonable notice. Volkswagen will therefore now dispose of its 19.9 percent stake in Suzuki and expects a positive effect on the Company's earnings and liquidity from the transaction. The arbitral tribunal also confirmed that Suzuki breached its contractual obligations to Volkswagen under the agreement and that Volkswagen has the right to claim damages. "We welcome the clarity created by this ruling. The tribunal rejected Suzuki's claims of breach and found that Volkswagen met its contractual obligations under the cooperation agreement. Nevertheless, the arbitrators found that termination of the cooperation agreement by Suzuki on reasonable notice was valid, and that Volkswagen must dispose of the shares purchased.

2023 Cadillac Escalade-V and Honda HR-V | Autoblog Podcast #735

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore and Senior West Coast Editor James Riswick have been driving some interesting vehicles, including the Cadillac Escalade-V, VW Jetta, BMW X3 and the new Honda HR-V. They also compare the Duramax-powered Chevy Silverado High Country to the 6.2-liter GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate. Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder drops in with a dispatch from the first drive of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq, previewing his upcoming review of the brand's first EV. Finally, they open the mailbag and help a reader pick a used car for under $20,000 in the Spend My Money segment. Send us your questions for the Mailbag and Spend My Money at: Podcast@Autoblog.com. Autoblog Podcast #735 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Cars we're driving 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V 2022 Volkswagen Jetta 2022 BMW X3 M40i 2023 Honda HR-V 2022 Chevy Silverado High Country w/Duramax vs. GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate w/6.2-liter Dispatch: 2023 Cadillac Lyriq Spend My Money: Sub-$20k used car Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related video: