Google Cloud Speeds Virtual Vehicle Development
Google Cloud and Swedish automotive software company RemotiveLabs are collaborating to move more vehicle development into the cloud. The partnership combines RemotiveLabs’ RemotiveTopology platform with Google Cloud’s Horizon software development platform.
Together, the technologies allow automakers and suppliers to build and test virtual versions of complete vehicles. The approach extends virtual development beyond the cockpit and main computing systems to cover a vehicle’s wider electrical and electronic architecture.
As a result, engineering teams can test software against a virtual vehicle before physical hardware becomes available. The companies say this can help identify integration problems earlier and reduce dependence on expensive prototypes and test equipment.
Virtual Vehicles Move Development Earlier
RemotiveTopology creates an executable model of a vehicle’s electrical and electronic systems. It represents components such as electronic control units, networks, signals and software interfaces in a virtual environment.
Meanwhile, Horizon provides the cloud-based development environment. Therefore, developers can build and test software while working against a broader virtual representation of the vehicle.
Google Cloud describes this combination as a “system of systems.” The concept allows different development teams to work against a shared virtual vehicle rather than waiting for separate physical components.
This approach also supports “shift-left” development. In practice, teams move integration and testing earlier in the development cycle.
Consequently, engineers can detect mismatches in signals, software interfaces, and system behaviour earlier. That can reduce the costs and delays associated with identifying problems after the physical hardware arrives.
RemotiveLabs says its platform already supports vehicle protocols including CAN, FlexRay, LIN and Automotive Ethernet. The company also uses version-controlled configurations so teams can treat vehicle architecture more like software code.
AI and Cloud Support Software-Defined Vehicles
The collaboration also brings AI agents into the virtual vehicle development process. Because the vehicle environment can run in software, developers and AI tools can test changes without waiting for a physical car.
Google Cloud says Horizon can reduce feature development costs by about 40%. It also reports that software testing can run up to nine times faster in virtual environments. These figures come from Google Cloud and its partners rather than independent testing.
Furthermore, virtual development can improve collaboration between software and hardware teams. Automakers often work across multiple suppliers, engineering groups and development environments. A shared virtual model can therefore provide a common environment for integration.
RemotiveLabs CEO and co-founder Per Sigurdson said the collaboration brings the wider vehicle into Horizon. He explained that developers can use the virtual vehicle as the environment against which they build and test functionality.
The companies have already completed the integration.
Arm Provides the Virtual Compute Foundation
Arm is also contributing to the broader virtual vehicle architecture. The company provides virtual platforms and a virtual system-on-chip environment that represents Arm-based silicon and development boards.
As a result, developers can begin software integration and verification before physical silicon becomes available. RemotiveLabs then extends that environment across the wider vehicle architecture.
The combined approach can support software development, system testing and AI model validation. Moreover, teams can move workloads from virtual environments to physical hardware as development progresses.
The partnership reflects a wider shift toward software-defined vehicles. Modern vehicles increasingly depend on software for infotainment, connected services, driver assistance and other functions.
Google Cloud has already expanded its automotive cloud strategy through Horizon. In September, Volvo Cars became Horizon’s lead industry partner for Android Automotive development. Google Cloud and Accenture said Horizon can enable testing up to nine times faster and reduce infotainment feature development costs by up to 40%.
Now, RemotiveLabs is extending that model beyond Android and the cockpit. Instead, the collaboration aims to provide developers with a virtual representation of the entire vehicle.
For automakers, the result could mean earlier testing, faster software iterations and less dependence on physical development hardware. More importantly, it could provide AI agents with a controlled environment to work with increasingly complex vehicle systems.
