Microsoft & Stellantis: Embedding Advanced AI into Vehicles

Global automaker Stellantis is entering a five-year partnership with Microsoft focusing on co-development of advanced AI, engineering capabilities and digital transformation across its operations.

Stellantis' automotive engineering expertise, multi-brand scale and global operations will work alongside Microsoft's cloud, AI and security capabilities.

The move is designed to accelerate more agile, connected and efficient digital processes across its ecosystem.

Stellantis' long history of innovation spans more than 100 years.

Drawing from this, Ned Curic, its Chief Engineering & Technology Officer, says: "As AI rapidly advances, we have been early adopters across our business, from engineering and manufacturing to design and customer interaction, embedding AI directly into our vehicles, from the new digital cabin to the core vehicle operating system.

"Through our collaboration with Microsoft, we are accelerating our AI momentum across the enterprise, giving our teams the tools to innovate faster and deliver the products, services and experiences customers expect from us."

AI-driven intelligence across operations

A main feature of the collaboration is to deploy and operate an AI-driven global intelligence centre spanning Stellantis' IT systems, connected vehicles, manufacturing sites and digital products.

AI intelligence and cyber protection will hence be further embedded into every digital vehicle experience, enhancing interactions across mobile apps and in-vehicle services.

This could help customers like Jeep drivers to benefit from improved connectivity and intelligent data access even in remote terrain.

Judson Althoff, CEO of Microsoft's Commercial Business, says: "Our work with Stellantis reflects a shared ambition to drive AI transformation responsibly and securely across the automotive value chain.

"By combining Stellantis' global scale and engineering expertise with Microsoft's trusted cloud, AI and security platforms, we are delivering real value for millions of drivers worldwide."

Enterprise-wide AI implementation

The two companies are co-developing more than 100 AI initiatives across customer care, product development and operations – AI-powered product validation, predictive maintenance and faster deployment of digital features are among these. 

Stellantis aims to reaffirm its commitment to put customers at the centre of everything it does by leveraging AI-driven insights from secure, encrypted data.

One other pillar of the collaboration is cloud modernisation by using Microsoft Azure to build a more scalable and interconnected digital ecosystem.

Stellantis also aims to reduce its data centre footprint by 60% by 2029.

Scaling AI transformation

Stellantis and Microsoft are planning to work closely alongside Microsoft-certified partners where specialised expertise is required.

This could maintain sustained focus on Stellantis' priority technology programmes, while enabling future AI-driven enhancements across engineering, manufacturing and supply-chain operations.

This can be seen in internal operations, as Stellantis is equipping its workforce with enterprise-grade AI tools.

All employees currently have access to Copilot Chat, with an initial rollout of 20,000 licences of Microsoft 365 Copilot supporting select roles.

Dedicated training programmes to improve productivity and collaboration are also part of it. 

By leveraging its longstanding alliance with Microsoft, Stellantis aims to deliver enhanced and personalised experiences to its customers.

The collaboration also reinforces its focus on customer-centric innovation and represents a step forward in building enterprise AI capabilities with intelligent analytics at scale.