#Google Cloud #Accenture #Volvo Cars

Revolutionizing Automotive Software Development with Horizon

Accenture and Google Cloud have joined forces with Volvo Cars to redefine software development in the automotive sector through their innovative platform, Horizon. Launched as part of a strategic collaboration, Horizon represents an open-source development environment designed to streamline the creation, testing, and deployment of software for the Android Automotive Operating System (AAOS). This partnership marks a significant milestone in the evolving landscape of vehicular technology, enabling manufacturers to meet the increasing demand for sophisticated in-car digital experiences.

The Need for Enhanced Software Development

In today’s competitive automotive market, manufacturers are under immense pressure to elevate consumer expectations for digital services, including navigation, media, and connectivity features. As vehicles become increasingly reliant on software functionality, the necessity for efficient development cycles becomes paramount. Horizon aims to resolve these challenges by providing a comprehensive set of tools and resources that enhance productivity within automotive engineering teams.

Introducing Horizon

The Horizon platform integrates cloud-native development tools, virtual testing environments, and AI-assisted workflows into a cohesive system. By migrating its global AAOS software development environment to Horizon, Volvo Cars will benefit from:

• - Accelerated Development Workflows: Developers can optimize their processes using virtual Cuttlefish-based environments, achieving software testing speeds up to nine times faster than traditional methods.
• - Cost Reductions: The platform promises to decrease infotainment feature development costs by as much as 40%, allowing teams to allocate resources more effectively.
• - Improved Feedback Loops: With intelligent caching and optimized build pipelines, engineers can now receive feedback within minutes instead of the previous wait time of two hours.
• - Global Collaboration: Remote access to both virtual and physical device farms means that development can occur from anywhere, improving hardware utilization and reducing the need for extensive physical testing equipment.
• - Streamlined Onboarding: New developers can be integrated into projects swiftly, with virtual workbenches enabling them to set up their environments in seconds rather than undergoing weeks of setup.

`Gregor Zetsche, Head of Connected Experience at Volvo Cars, expressed the company's excitement, stating,