Nissan picks Android

Article Excerpt

NISSAN MOTOR (ADR) $17.95 (Nasdaq symbol NSANY; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average) (310-771-3111; www.nissan-global.com; ADRs o/s: 2.1 billion; Market cap: $38.0 billion; Dividend yield: 3.3%) will now adopt Android infotainment systems by Alphabet’s Google for its next generation of in-car systems and dashboard displays. They launch in 2021. Drivers will also be able to access Google’s maps, app store and voice assistant from their dashboards. Nissan decided to partner with Google because many of its customers are accustomed to using Google Maps and other apps. They likely prefer sticking with systems they know instead of adapting to Nissan software. Other automakers are already using Google apps: Audi’s in-car navigation system relies on Google Earth maps, and Volvo’s next in-car infotainment system will run on Android. Nissan Motor is a buy. buy…