Tata Motors and Microsoft partner for enhanced in-car connectivity

Tata Motors and Microsoft have announced a strategic agreement aimed at redefining the connected and personalised driving experience for Indian passenger vehicle buyers.

The partnership announcement comes exactly two weeks after Tata Motors revealed its new passenger vehicle strategy and the TAMO sub-brand on February 2. 

Tata Motors is to leverage Microsoft’s connected vehicle technologies that bring together artificial intelligence (AI), advanced machine learning and the Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities on the global hyper-scale Azure cloud. This, the companies say, will help create a highly personalised, smart and safer driving experience across the digital and physical worlds.

The first vehicle showcasing the vision for these enhanced driving experiences is to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on March 7 this year. The Futuro concept car, billed as the first product from the recently announced TAMO initiative, will utilise Microsoft-enabled functionality like advanced navigation, predictive maintenance, telematics and remote monitoring features.

According to Autocar Professional's sister brand Autocar India, the Futuro is an affordable two-seater, mid-engined sportscar. 

L-R: Tata Motors' Guenter Butschek and Microsoft India's Anant Maheshwari seal the deal at a media meet in Mumbai today. 

Commenting on the partnership with Microsoft, Guenter Butschek, CEO and MD, Tata Motors, said: “With the aim to develop innovative and technologically leading products, we are using Microsoft’s connected vehicle technologies on Azure intelligent cloud to bring the digital lives of our customers into the cars they drive. Making the most of the fast-paced innovation that Microsoft has to offer, we will create a fully connected and seamless driving experience for our customers.”

Anant Maheswari, president, Microsoft India, said: “Using IoT, artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, we will provide vehicle owners in India and across the world with a safe, productive and fun driving experience.”

Future cars from Tata Motors will offer drivers and passengers a highly digital driving experience. Microsoft Azure cloud computing technologies will allow advanced navigation, predictive maintenance and vehicle-centric services, remote monitoring of car features, external mobile experiences and over-the-air updates.

Here’s what is possible:

- Based on their profile and location data, vehicle owners can receive proactive point-of-interest shopping and route assist recommendations.

- Pre-emptive service alters based on vehicle health data will enable owners to avoid costly downtime en route to planned road trips.

- Using industry-leading firmware over the air (FOTA) and software over the air (SOTA) update protocols, key vehicle settings can be updated over the cloud. These will help cloud-based diagnostics and the ability to use insights from vehicle data to prevent warranty and recall issues, and also new services that improve user experience.

- By capturing, analysing and acting on live road conditions, vehicle users will be able to avoid road blocks and rough terrain. Also, by unifying navigation data elements like maps, weather, traffic and parking tips, the solutions can deliver optimised routing at location-based services.

Also read:
How Microsoft’s Connected Vehicle Platform is helping automakers transform cars

Tata Motors reveals new PV strategy and TAMO sub-brand