Continental and Elektrobit Integrate Amazon’s Alexa Custom Assistant

Continental and Elektrobit today previewed their in-vehicle integration of Amazon Alexa Custom Assistant, a solution that lets automakers access Alexa's advanced artificial intelligence to create their own branded, intelligent assistants. The collaboration brings together Continental's automotive electronics and EB's software expertise, integrating Alexa Custom Assistant into Continental's Cockpit High Performance Computer with software and integration services provided by EB.

The highly integrated hardware-software solution will azllow automakers to add a customized voice experience to their vehicles.

"The automotive cockpit is changing. With the addition of more displays, cameras, sensors, and advanced features, it is becoming increasingly complex. Additionally, boundaries between life in and outside the vehicle continue to blur, with consumers expecting a seamless technology experience no matter where they are," said Jens Brandt, head of human machine interfaces at Continental North America, in a statement. "Holistic interaction concepts for such complex systems are key, and the best user experience is becoming the ultimate differentiator for any automaker. Working together with Amazon, we enable automakers to create world-class customized voice AI experiences that maximize resources and enhance the customer experience."

With Alexa Custom Assistant, all sorts of custom experiences can be programmed into the vehicle, enabling a natural dialogue between the driver, custom assistant, and Alexa to fulfill the driver's request. Alexa's advanced AI ensures each request is routed to the assistant that can provide the most relevant and delightful experience. Automakers can even customize their brand’s assistant with a unique wake word, voice and capabilities

"Advances in AI are making voice experiences in the car more natural, conversational, and user-friendly, and we want to make this innovation accessible to any automaker," said Ned Curic, vice president of Alexa Auto, in a statement. "Our collaboration with Continental and EB gives the industry a highly integrated and scalable solution for adding customizable in-vehicle experiences to cockpit systems while reducing the burden of building and maintaining the core capabilities of an intelligent assistant, enabling automakers to focus their time and resources on creating other unique features that delight their customers."

"It's exciting for EB and Continental to pave the way, making it easier for [manufacturers] to add cutting-edge features to their vehicles," said Christian Reinhard, executive vice president of Elektrobit, in a statement. "This first-of-its-kind integration of Alexa Custom Assistant is the logical progression of EB's groundbreaking work with Amazon."