Lotus Picks Cloud Service for Connected Cars: AWS re:Invent 2024

Lotus Technology plans to use Amazon Web Services as its preferred cloud provider as it continues to develop automated and connected cars.

The news was announced at the AWS re:Invent conference in Las Vegas.

Lotus is based in Wuhan, China, and operates under the iconic British sportscar brand, designing and selling luxury electric vehicles.

The company is currently trying to put in place its ambitious Vision80 program, which involves offering a 100% pure electric product portfolio by 2028, and carbon neutrality by 2038. It sees AWS as being key to delivering this, helping Lotus to establish itself as a global luxury technology brand.

While once famed for lightweight sports cars, Lotus pivoted in pursuit of ever more outrageous, heavy EVs, such as the Emeya GT, which offers up to 905 brake horsepower and the Eletre, a hyper SUV with a similar power output that arrived on the scene amid some ambitious self-driving aspirations.

The company also said it is looking to develop next-generation digital technologies, which could be used in vehicles not necessarily the Lotus brand.

As such, a statement issued to mark the AWS tie-up explained how Lotus would benefit: “Lotus will apply AWS technologies, including Internet of Things (IoT), analytics, machine learning and generative artificial intelligence (AI), to develop and deliver connected features, such as autonomous driving solutions, immersive infotainment and hyper-fast vehicle charging.”

Related:Self-Driving Cars Confused by Flashing Emergency Lights, Study Finds

Lotus is running its ROBO Soul self-driving stack on AWS, which allows vehicles to automatically perform tasks such as parking and highway driving.

It has also used AWS to develop ROBO Galaxy, a platform of intelligent driving tools to help fleet managers increase the efficiency and accessibility of autonomous vehicles in international markets.

And AWS allows Lotus to analyze real-time maps, traffic info and driver behavior to enhance its intelligent driving systems which facilitate, for example, automated emergency braking.

Lotus Connect, the company’s connected vehicle platform, runs on AWS, while the use of Amazon Cloud Front even allows prospective customers to draw up 3D renders of possible purchases.

Bo Li, vice president of Lotus, hailed the new depth of the partnership, saying: “AWS’s technologies help us accelerate our global growth. We are excited to work with AWS to apply new technologies like generative AI, which will help us improve Lotus’ automated driving capabilities, develop more responsive customer service, and improve driver satisfaction.”

Related:BMW Expands Self-Driving Technology Across Its Factories

Ozgur Tohumcu of AWS added: “We look forward to continuing our collaboration, applying generative AI to help drive efficiencies and bring new connected car capabilities, enhanced vehicle features leveraging self-driving capabilities, and elevated driving experiences.”