At AWS re:Invent, Amazon Web Services, an Amazon.com, Inc. company, announced that Lotus Technology, a global leader in intelligent and luxury mobility, has selected AWS as its preferred cloud provider to support its efforts in creating advanced, luxury vehicle experiences. The partnership will aid Lotus in realizing its Vision80 Strategy, a comprehensive plan to transform the company into a global luxury technology brand by 2028.
With a history of more than 70 years in motorsport and automotive innovation, Lotus is renowned for its leadership in performance, design, and engineering. As a company committed to delivering cutting-edge luxury electric vehicles, Lotus aims to focus on next-generation electric and digital technologies. The automaker will leverage AWS’s robust technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, analytics, and generative artificial intelligence (AI), to develop a suite of connected features in its vehicles. These innovations will include autonomous driving solutions, immersive infotainment experiences, and lightning-fast vehicle charging capabilities.
Advancing Autonomous and Connected Vehicle Technologies
Lotus is using AWS to power its self-driving software stack, ROBO Soul, which enables vehicles, including future electric models, to carry out complex tasks such as parking and highway driving autonomously. AWS’s powerful cloud infrastructure allows Lotus to build ROBO Galaxy, an intelligent driving platform designed to improve the efficiency and accessibility of autonomous vehicles for fleet managers in global markets. By leveraging AWS tools like Amazon Redshift and Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK), Lotus creates advanced driving tools and integrates critical data with Amazon Glue, ensuring seamless data management and analysis.
This powerful cloud-driven approach enables Lotus to collect and analyze real-time data, such as traffic conditions, driver behavior, and map information, enhancing their self-driving capabilities. For example, their autonomous system is designed to automatically apply the brakes if it detects an object too close to the vehicle, improving safety and responsiveness.
Lotus’s connected-vehicle platform, Lotus Connect, also runs on AWS, offering users a variety of features that enhance the driving experience. These include remote vehicle control, real-time status monitoring, geofencing, and theft tracking. By utilizing Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS), Lotus can quickly deploy and manage applications, scaling them efficiently. This connected platform allows drivers to receive maintenance notifications, request roadside assistance, and more. One standout feature is the Lotus Digital Key, a next-gen car key that can be stored in Apple Wallets, providing users with the ability to lock, unlock, and start their vehicle using their iPhone or Apple Watch. With the help of Amazon Aurora’s high-performance database, this system offers a response time of under 2.2 seconds and is available with an impressive 99.99% uptime.
Personalized Driving Experiences
AWS’s analytics capabilities are also enabling Lotus to personalize the car-buying experience and tailor vehicle recommendations. By using Amazon CloudFront, AWS’s content delivery network, Lotus can offer real-time 3D vehicle renderings for customers to customize their cars. This immersive platform allows customers to view various vehicle configurations, including accessories, colors, and trim packages, helping them visualize their future vehicle in fine detail. Additionally, Lotus works with artists and luxury brands to curate limited-edition designs, enhancing the exclusivity of the offerings.
According to Bo Li, Vice President of Lotus Technology, “AWS’s technologies help us accelerate our global growth by enabling Lotus to develop solutions for intelligent driving, connected cars, and personalized experiences. We are excited to work with AWS on innovative technologies such as generative AI, which will enhance our automated driving capabilities, improve customer service responsiveness, and elevate driver satisfaction. We look forward to deepening our partnership with AWS to create an even more responsive and enhanced in-vehicle experience.”
Transforming the Automotive Landscape
The automotive sector is currently undergoing a major shift toward electrification and digitization. Ozgur Tohumcu, General Manager of Automotive & Manufacturing at AWS, emphasized how cloud technology is playing a critical role in this transformation. “The automotive industry is experiencing a seismic shift to digitization and electrification, and the cloud is driving these rapid advancements,” said Tohumcu. “By working together, AWS will support Lotus in continuously innovating to offer more personalized, connected, and intelligent driving experiences. We’re excited to continue our collaboration, applying generative AI to improve efficiencies, enhance self-driving features, and elevate the overall driving experience.”
This partnership marks a significant milestone for both Lotus and AWS, with the potential to revolutionize the way consumers interact with and experience luxury vehicles in the digital age. By leveraging AWS’s advanced cloud technologies, Lotus is poised to remain at the forefront of automotive innovation, delivering groundbreaking experiences for drivers around the world.
