Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi and Google today announced a technology partnership to embed the Android operating system in vehicles sold by the automotive alliance.

Under the technology partnership, vehicles sold by the Alliance members in many markets will utilize Android operating system, and will provide turn-by-turn navigation with Google Maps, access to an ecosystem of automotive apps on the Google Play Store and have the ability to answer calls and texts, control media, find information, and manage vehicle functions with voice using the built in Google Assistant.

The Alliance, whose member companies last year sold 10.6 million vehicles in 200 markets, will integrate Google applications and services into infotainment and cloud-based systems. While a range of Alliance vehicles will share the Android platform, each brand will have flexibility to create a unique customer interface and specific features on top of the common Android platform.

The infotainment partnership forms part of Alliance moves to equip more vehicles with connectivity and cloud-based services as part of its Alliance 2022 mid-term plan. Under the plan, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi is targeting increased sales of more than 14 million units a year by the end of 2022.

The plan also involves the launch of 12 new zero-emission electric vehicles, new autonomous-driving technologies and the ongoing rollout of the Alliance Intelligent Cloud.

The Alliance Intelligent Cloud will provide infotainment systems with secure connectivity by offering a platform to integrate data management, infotainment systems and to facilitate over-the-air upgrades and remote diagnostics in Alliance member-company vehicles.

Since 2005, Google has been trying to chart a path into the car. Volkswagen AG's Audi became the first to put Google Earth in its in-car navigation systems. Volvo Cars has announced that its next generation in-car infotainment system would run on Android, Google's operating system.

Google has also offered Android Auto to car makers to allow users to pair their smartphones into the dashboard display. Apple has a similar product, marketed as Apple CarPlay.