Nissan Motors Teams Up With Microsoft

Microsoft and the Renault-Nissan Alliance entered into a partnership agreement stretching over several years that will see the automaker using the tech titan's Azure cloud platform to add new connectivity options. Renault-Nissan hopes to keep owners connected as much as possible, whether it relates to work, play or even the car itself.

Azure will help Renault-Nissan introduce new technologies like over-the-air updates, settings that are transferable between vehicles, and remote vehicle diagnostics. The automaker is also preparing for our inevitable autonomous future by working to integrate office tools into the car, because heaven forbid we relax on our way to work. Renault-Nissan also mentions including other services like stolen-car tracking and using mobile apps to access cars in lieu of traditional keys.

As security remains a hot topic in the industry, Renault-Nissan touted Azure's enterprise-grade security as a major reason for partnering with Microsoft. The future will be a battle to this end, as the growing demand for connected services increases the chances for the digital riff-raff to cause trouble.