German luxury carbrand Audi has officially launched AirConsole's interactive gaming platform in select vehicles, marking a significant step forward in the evolution of in-car entertainment. This integration brings a suite of social games, playable using smartphones as controllers, directly to Audi's infotainment system, aiming to enhance the travel experience for non-driving passengers.

The games were previously limited to parked vehicles, but now in-car gaming in select Audi models can now be enjoyed while the car is in motion, specifically by the front passenger in vehicles equipped with a passenger display. This is made possible through Audi's Active Privacy Mode, a unique digital curtain that prevents the driver from being distracted by the screen.

Anthony Cliquot, CEO at N-Dream, the makers of AirConsole, said, “This is a game-changer for in-car entertainment. With Audi, we’re redefining what’s possible inside a vehicle – bringing gaming into motion and making every journey more social and fun. By enabling gameplay on the passenger screen in a way that prioritises safety – by not distracting the driver – we’re taking a bold yet responsible step toward a future where cars are not just modes of transport, but platforms for shared digital experiences.”

In a notable collaboration with Mattel, Audi and AirConsole are introducing Pictionary Car Party, an exclusive in-car edition of the popular quickdraw game. This launch coincides with Pictionary's 40th anniversary and allows up to four players to connect via their personal devices, transforming road trips into interactive gaming sessions.

Erika Winterholler, Head of Business Development, Digital Gaming at Mattel, said, “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with AirConsole and work with the team at Audi to bring Pictionary Car Party! to Audi’s infotainment systems. This collaboration is a game-changer, letting non-driving passengers join in on fun, interactive play using their smartphones. Most importantly, the front passenger can safely control the game without distracting the driver, ensuring that entertainment and safety go hand-in-hand. This is the future of social gaming on the move, making every journey more enjoyable.”

Beyond Pictionary Car Party, the AirConsole platform offers an initial selection of 13 additional games spanning various genres, including racing, sports, trivia and party games. Notable titles include Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? from Sony Pictures Television, Overcooked from Team17, and UNO Car Party! from Mattel. Audi passengers can anticipate frequent updates and new content, ensuring an ever-expanding library of interactive entertainment.

Accessing AirConsole is designed to be straightforward. Users can download the AirConsole app directly through the Audi Application Store, which hosts apps specifically optimised for in-vehicle use. Passengers simply scan a QR code displayed on the vehicle’s screen with their smartphone to instantly connect and use their device as a game controller.

The AirConsole gaming platform is now available in the Audi A5, Q5, A6, A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron model series equipped with Android-based infotainment systems, across all markets where Audi operates.

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German technology major Bosch has outlined its ambition to further continue investments towards development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI). During the recently held Bosch Tech Day, the company announced that by end-2027 it will invest over EUR 2.5 billion towards AI alone.

In the last five years, the company has filed over 1,500 patent applications in the field of AI, making it a leading innovator globally. The company shared that despite slower-than-anticipated momentum of AI in both assisted and automated driving, it foresees huge potential in the long run.

Going forward, it expects the demand for software, sensor technology, high-performance computers and network components will more than double by mid-2030. This it estimates will account for around EUR 10 billion in sales revenue.

Stefan Hartung, Chairman, Bosch Board of Management, said, “The breakthroughs in AI make it possible to open up completely new chapters in technology, accelerate the development of innovations, and turn these into business.”

In the automotive industry, Bosch has developed expertise in automated driving, for example for visualising the vehicle’s surroundings and route planning. Thanks to AI, the vehicle thinks ahead, anticipates how other road users will behave, and calculates the next steps to get to its destination safely. AI not only ensures greater safety in vehicles, however; it also helps significantly shorten development times for new products. For example, Bosch can draw on a unique database of vehicle sensor data to feed a generative AI solution – and thus train systems much faster and more efficiently. This could pave the way for even more reliable driving assistants and automated driving functions in the future.

The company also expects AI for making manufacturing more streamlined and smart, not only for Bosch factories, but also for its clienteles.

Furthermore, the German technology major is also getting its associates on board. The company through its in-house AI Academy has trained over 65,000 associates since 2019. Nearly 5,000 AI specialists are working on intelligent AI solutions.

“One thing is becoming increasingly clear: a society without AI capabilities will fall behind in global competition,” said Hartung.

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Pune-headquartered automotive major Force Motors has inked a strategic partnership with Zoho Corporation to upgrade its customer experience and dealer management systems.

This initiative is part of Force Motors’ Project DigiForce, a digital transformation program that leverages technologies across the value chain to drive innovation, improve productivity and enhance customer satisfaction.

The auto major will deploy Zoho’s Advanced Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Dealer Management System (DMS), along with a suite of 12 AI-powered front-office applications across its network. This integrated, cloud-based solution will replace legacy systems, bringing in cutting-edge capabilities to modernise marketing, sales, service, customer engagement and internal collaboration.

The solution will streamline dealer operations and create a unified platform for teams, dealers and customers.

At present, Force Motors operates a network of over 200 dealerships, 70 authorised service centres and 30 parts centres across India, supported by international distributors in more than 40 countries.

Prasan Firodia, Managing Director, Force Motors, said, “Through Project DigiForce and our partnership with Zoho, we are aiming for a significant transformation in the way we deliver customer experience. The technology solutions from Zoho will also enhance the capabilities of our dealers and distribution partners in India as well as in our global markets. Our collaboration with Zoho, a global technology leader rooted in India, aligns perfectly with Force Motors’ commitment to advocate innovation and technology development in India.”

Mani Vembu, CEO, Zoho, said, “Force Motors has long been a symbol of indigenous engineering excellence, backed by a strong nationwide dealer network and a growing global footprint. With Project DigiForce, they are complementing that legacy with a forward-looking digital vision to transform customer engagement across the entire lifecycle – from discovery and purchase to service, support and ownership. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to reimagining customer experience as a strategic driver of growth. Together, we are building a connected ecosystem where technology simplifies operations, strengthens collaboration and delivers contextual, intelligent engagement at every touchpoint."

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German embedded and connected software platform Elektrobit has inked a joint development agreement (JDA) with Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), one of the world’s largest electronics manufacturers, to jointly develop EV.OS – a flexible and AI-centric software platform designed to support the rapid transformation towards software-defined electric vehicles.

The partners aim to create a smart EV platform, including hardware and software, to develop industry-first scaling supply chain innovations.

They aim to market smart automotive platform solutions that reduce complexity, total cost of ownership, scale production and accelerate the commoditisation of the mobility industry for the benefit of the consumer. The smart EV platform will include a reference E/E architecture (EV.EEA), a non-differentiating EV operating system and an EV application.

Once ready, EV.OS and EV.EEA will form the backbone of a future-ready SDV (Software Defined Vehicle) platform, enabled by Elektrobit’s software platform integration capabilities. It will support multiple high-performance and real-time ECUs and enable service-oriented architectures across all functional domains – including a semantic vehicle API for third-party applications. Development will be supported by an efficient CI/CT/CD toolchain and a Level 3 virtualised environment.

Maria Anhalt, CEO, Elektrobit, said, “Elektrobit has a unique value proposition in automotive embedded software development with regards to both, development of own software products, and integration and homologation of large-scale automotive series projects. Our collaboration with Foxconn is another milestone in the evolution of software-defined vehicles. By combining Elektrobit’s automotive software expertise with Foxconn’s manufacturing and hardware innovation, we are creating a scalable platform that reduces complexity, shortens development cycles and supports future mobility business models.”

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Tata Consultancy Services, a leading IT services, consulting and business solutions company, has further expanded its capabilities in the rapidly evolving Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV) space with the addition of three new engineering centres in Europe. This marks the firm’s long-term strategy to strengthen its end-to-end automotive software capabilities, chip-to-cloud technologies and services.

The company has set up two new Automotive Delivery Centers in Germany – located in Munich and Villingen-Schwenningen as well as an engineering centre in Romania.

The German facilities the company shared will support automakers in developing and deploying TCS’ software-driven services that cater to autonomous driving, infotainment, safety systems and connected vehicle technologies. On the other hand, the Romanian facility will focus on designing and building advanced automotive software platforms to support early-stage development and innovation.

The new facilities will enable close collaboration with OEMs in Europe and global automotive enterprises.

At present, the company has onboarded over 100 professionals in Europe who will work together with more than 2,000 SDV Engineers across TCS global locations. This diverse and global talent pool will enable the development of next generation automotive platforms for digital cockpits and infotainment, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and other critical SDV functions — supporting the full product lifecycle from concept and development to production and post-launch support.

Regu Ayyaswamy, Senior Vice-President & Global Head, Internet of Things (IoT) and Digital Engineering at TCS, said, “These new centres will position TCS at the forefront of automotive innovation, enabling us to deliver state-of-the-art solutions in autonomous driving and advanced cockpit systems. This expansion reaffirms our commitment to leading the transformation in the Software-Defined Vehicles space.”

Anupam Singhal, President and Business Group Head, Manufacturing, TCS, said, “The shift to software-defined vehicles marks a defining moment for the automotive industry. With the launch of these new centres, we are deepening our commitment to support OEMs in building the next generation of intelligent, connected, and sustainable vehicles. This expansion is a key milestone in our journey toward Future-Ready Mobility — where software, engineering and design, backed by AI, converge to deliver safer, more personalised and continuously enriching experiences for drivers and passengers.”

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