Technology Roundup – Ford leans on Google for connected vehicle tech, Google shutting down internal Stadia game development, focusing on platform

Published on: February 2, 2021
Author: Amy Liu

Ford leans on Google for connected vehicle tech

Ford (F +5.9%) announces a strategic partnership with Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL)  to accelerate its transformation and reinvent the connected vehicle experience.

Ford has also named Google Cloud its preferred cloud provider to leverage its artificial intelligence and machine learning muscle.

As part of the new, six-year partnership millions of future Ford and Lincoln vehicles at all price points will be powered by Android, with Google apps and services built-in.

“As Ford continues the most profound transformation in our history with electrification, connectivity and self-driving, Google and Ford coming together establishes an innovation powerhouse truly able to deliver a superior experience for our customers and modernize our business,” says Ford CEO Jim Farley.

Beginning in 2023, Ford and Lincoln customers globally will start to benefit from unique digital experiences built on top of the Android operating system and with Google apps and services built in.

Google shutting down internal Stadia game development, focusing on platform

Google (GOOG, GOOGL) says it’s shutting down internal game development at its Stadia game-streaming service, looking to focus on building infrastructure and partnerships.

Stadia’s technology has been “proven and works at scale,” Stadia’s Phil Harrison says, and the company will still be investing in the platform.

But “Creating best-in-class games from the ground up takes many years and significant investment, and the cost is going up exponentially. Given our focus on building on the proven technology of Stadia as well as deepening our business partnerships, we’ve decided that we will not be investing further in bringing exclusive content from our internal development team SG&E, beyond any near-term planned games.”

That also means that Jade Raymond is leaving Google to pursue other opportunities, and most of the SG&E team are moving on to new roles, Harrison says.

Third-party games will continue to arrive on the platform, he says.

First Solar cut at UBS as limited catalysts seen ahead after run-up

First Solar (FSLR -0.4%) edges lower as UBS downgrades shares to Neutral from Buy but with a $110 price target, raised from $95, citing “limited upside catalysts” to keep the rally going after shares have surged by two-thirds over the past six months.

UBS analyst Jon Windham had maintained a Buy recommendation since March 2018, but now he says his prior expectations for a potential extension of the U.S. federal investment tax credit to support a higher multiple for First Solar shares have not played out.

He sees potential for the post-election policy enthusiasm to lead to disappointment in the actual pace of deployment of new renewables.

While Windham sees “limited” upside potential for the stock, there also is limited downside risk, given the company’s “highly contracted backlog.”

Bank of America downgraded shares to Underperform from Neutral last week, citing “growing concerns on its ability to sustain elevated valuations.”

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