For all the talk of innovation in automotive, there is one constant theme: none of it is possible without effectively gathering, storing, analyzing, and using data.

Vehicles today are data-generating machines. From how the vehicle is used to the driver’s preferred temperature, seat height, and mirror placement, the more connected the vehicle, the more data it generates. When mined correctly, this information can generate valuable insights that car makers can use to inform new products and services.

Few need convincing of the potential opportunities in data, but many do not realize that it is not just about having the latest machine learning and AI tools; the right environments are also needed. These should provide flexibility and agility, while also meeting the increasingly complex requirements of international privacy regulations.

The right public cloud can meet those needs, with its ability to scale, store data and host AI and ML tools that can turn information into intelligence. In doing so, it can help support innovations such as hyper geolocation, where positioning can be calculated to within four centimeters. In other words, the sort of solution needed to make autonomous and assisted driving a reality.

Using data is a huge opportunity for car makers but one fraught with challenges covering everything from capacity and latency to data sovereignty.