Amazon partners with Lamborghini, Rivian to Provide Alexa voice Helper in vehicles
Lamborghini and Rivian add to a growing list of partners that are incorporating Amazon's Alexa voice-enabled helper into vehicles.
Rivian also will include Alexa in its previously-announced fleet of 100,000 all-electric delivery vans for Amazon.
The new Alexa-enabled vehicles were announced along with the CES technology summit that is happening this week in Las Vegas.
Amazon is incorporating exotic Italian automaker Lamborghini and Michigan-based electric car startup Rivian to its growing list of partners who will integrate its Alexa voice-enabled helper into upcoming vehicles.
Amazon on Monday stated Lamborghini will comprise Alexa in its $200,000-plus Huracan Evo and Rivian will incorporate Alexa to its first two all-electric vehicles, the R1S SUV and R1T pickup, starting later this year.
Rivian
Rivian also will include Alexa in its previously-announced fleet of 100,000 all-electric Amazon delivery vans, which are expected to start production in 2021. Amazon was the lead investor in a $700 million investment round into Rivian almost one year ago. The business was a part of a $1.3 billion investment round, directed by T. Rowe Price, that was announced in December.
The new Alexa-enabled vehicles were announced along with the CES technology summit that is happening this week in Las Vegas. The partnerships add to 10 past tie-ups involving automakers and Amazon to include Alexa's voice helper technology in vehicles, according to the firm.
Amazon on Monday also announced that it is partnering with automakers like BMW and Fiat Chrysler to provide Amazon TV to in-car entertainment systems; enlarging Echo Auto, its aftermarket in-vehicle apparatus with Alexa, to global markets this year, beginning with India on Jan. 15; and the capacity for U.S. customers to pay for gasoline through Alexa in 11,500 Exxon and Mobil stations.
General Motors
General Motors, a partner with Amazon for Alexa, was the first automaker to provide in-car pay at gas stations through an automobile's infotainment system in 2018.
Ned Curic, vice president of Alexa Auto, last month told CNBC last month that the need for Alexa in automobiles was"through the roof" heading into 2020.
Arianne Walker, the Amazon chief evangelist of Alexa Auto, said the company is"essentially speaking" with all significant automakers on partnering in some form.
"It is more of a matter of getting things lined up for the cars which are likely to be released instead of some hesitation," she said.
Shares of Amazon were up 1.2% mid-afternoon on Monday to almost $1,900 per share. The stock is up more than 20% in the last year, including a 2.6% growth in 2020.