Beyond EVs: Building Smart, Affordable, Net-Zero Mobility

Ampere’s AI Revolution: Driving the Future of Smart, Connected Vehicles

Olivier Meurisse, Director of Software and Systems Engineering at Ampere, a Renault Group entity, detailed the automotive industry’s transformation via software and AI. He defined a Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) as one where core functionalities like driving dynamics, infotainment, and energy management are increasingly controlled by software, separating hardware and software.

This architecture enables continuous over-the-air updates, enhancing customer experience and vehicle residual value. It supports modular developments, faster innovation cycles, and personalized user experiences, leveraging software’s rapid evolution. SDVs also introduce new business models, such as subscriptions and features on demand.

Ampere is leading Europe’s SDV transformation, positioning Renault Group as a software-driven mobility player. Mr. Meurisse introduced the AI Defined Vehicle (AIDV) as the next evolution of SDV, embedding artificial intelligence directly into the vehicle’s core logic and decision-making, signifying deeper AI integration.

While SDV provides the foundational architecture—connectivity, data-centric design, compute power, and modularity—AIDV specifically denotes extensive AI use for applications. AI brings intelligence through learning, prediction, and personalization. Together, they create vehicles that are not only connected but also context-aware, self-improving, and user-centric.

This synergy forms the backbone of the future mobility ecosystem, transforming vehicles into intelligent agents integrated with smart cities and digital services. Drivers will experience cars that learn from habits, adapt to environments, and improve over time, offering seamless personal settings transitions akin to upgrading a smartphone.

Ampere and Renault Group are actively deploying AI. A key example is the immersive experience provided by personalized voice assistants. Renault’s next-generation vehicles feature natural language AI assistants that understand context, learn user habits, and anticipate needs, such as suggesting optimal routes or adjusting climate settings.

Another concrete application is enhanced safety through AI scene interpretation. AI-powered systems can interpret complex urban environments, predict pedestrian behavior, and react more swiftly than traditional rule-based systems. These advancements make vehicles safer, smarter, and more intuitive, building upon successful existing systems like the openR link.

Addressing affordability, Mr. Meurisse highlighted that the focus shifts to software development. Ampere collaborates with Qualcomm for system-on-chip technology and Google for software, significantly reducing development time by 50%. This partnership enables seamless integration of Android applications, with Renault maintaining ownership and hosting vehicle data securely in Europe.

Thousands of engineers across various European locations, including Paris, Tunisia, Toulouse, and Sophia Antipolis, are dedicated to developing these advanced SDV and AIDV technologies. Ampere targets 2026 for the launch of its first SDV applications in Europe, with initial AI integration focusing on voice assistants and a clear roadmap for expanding AI into other vehicle systems.