Cerence and e.solutions have announced that they will be collaborating to develop new technology for next-generation automotive cockpits. The two companies have already been working together for more than ten years, and have previously delivered in-car solutions for major vehicle brands like Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, and Bentley. e.solutions is itself a joint venture between Audi Electronics Venture and Elektrobit Automotive.

Cerence, of course, is best known as a developer of AI and speech recognition technologies that have been used in a number of different in-car voice assistants. The company is planning to leverage that technology in its work with e.solutions to create better interactive systems.

“The role of ‘infotainment’ in the car is expanding, going beyond core communication and entertainment functions to serve as a true assistant in the cockpit,” said e.solutions Managing Director Uwe Reder. “We are proud to partner with Cerence to leverage their industry-leading voice technology within our software stack to deliver an amazing experience to automakers and their customers.”

“As drivers look for a smartphone-like experience on the road, the car of the future is increasingly defined by the user experience behind the wheel,” added Cerence EVP and Core Products General Manager Stefan Ortmanns. “We’re accelerating innovation that will advance the in-car experience and give automakers a competitive edge.”

Cerence recently revealed that its voice technology would be featured in Audi’s next-gen AI assistant. The company has also launched a new Studio platform that will make it easier for car manufacturers to develop custom-branded voice assistants.