BMW announces the first automaker to use Amazon's AWS cloud platform

It will become the first automaker to use Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud software to manage data from its connected vehicles. BMW says there are about 20 million connected cars on the road as of today. AWS software will be integrated into BMW's "Neue Klasse" pure electric platform for its future electric vehicles. In a statement, Nicolai Krämer, vice president of BMW Group Vehicle Connectivity Platforms, said the new platform can process approximately three times the amount of vehicle data compared to the current generation of BMW models.

Smart vehicles today rely more than ever on software to run, powering functions such as telematics, navigation, and advanced driver assistance features. Automakers are also increasingly entering licensing deals with Silicon Valley-based software giants to better manage the data their vehicles generate.

Amazon said it is in talks with other automakers to use the AWS cloud platform as an easy-to-use tool for collecting vehicle data, managing large fleets, and improving maintenance and repair processes. The platform could also enable automakers to offer "advanced vehicle features and a more personalized driver experience" at a lower cost.

According to BMW and Amazon, the AWS cloud is more secure than those of other providers, claiming that it will be immune to hacking or other cybersecurity breaches.

Only internal domain experts within the BMW Group (vehicle application developers, fleet managers, data scientists as well as artificial intelligence, business intelligence, and development engineers) can access the data through a self-service mechanism that collects streaming vehicle data, easily adding new data sources, Configure access based on governance policies and monitor the quality and health of your stream sources.