- Gemini is rolling out as a free upgrade for Renault OpenR Link vehicles with Google built-in.
- Gemini can handle conversational requests, vehicle controls and EV route planning.
- Renault has not confirmed NZ availability.
Renault is adding Google's Gemini AI assistant to vehicles fitted with OpenR Link, giving its built-in infotainment system a more conversational upgrade than a simple Android Auto change.
Beyond phone projection
The rollout began on 15 June as an over-the-air update for compatible Renault vehicles already on the road. Customers are invited to opt in through the central display if they are signed into a Google Account, and Renault says the upgrade is free.
The difference is integration. Gemini on OpenR Link can go beyond phone projection because it is built into the vehicle system. Renault says it can control some vehicle functions, including air conditioning, navigation, radio and settings, and can use vehicle data such as EV range for route planning.
More natural requests
Renault says Gemini can understand conversational context, handle more complex requests and support more natural, continuous exchanges. It is being rolled out gradually in 13 languages, including English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese.
Gemini Live is also planned for a later update, with Renault saying it will allow more free-flowing conversation, interruptions and multiple requests without repeating the usual wake phrase.
The practical aim is to reduce touchscreen use. Drivers could ask for a route that avoids a particular road, request a temperature change by saying the cabin is cold, or ask open-ended questions while keeping attention on the road.
Local relevance
Renault has not announced New Zealand availability for Gemini on OpenR Link. That matters because Renault paused local passenger-car sales in mid-2024, although by March 2026 it had been conducting a full review of its local passenger and light commercial range.
Even so, this is a useful signal of where Renault wants its cabins to go: more cloud-connected, more conversational and more tightly integrated with the car itself.
