Latest news with #Chryslers
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Why Stellantis and Amazon Axed Their SmartCockpit Partnership
Back in January 2022, Stellantis, the multinational automaker that is the parent company of American brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, as well as European powerhouses like Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati, announced a multiyear agreement revolving primarily around in-cabin software. The main product from the Amazon-Stellantis link-up was called SmartCockpit, a "software-defined platform" that was intended to "seamlessly integrate with customers' digital lives" and ship in global Stellantis vehicles by 2024. However, a new report from Reuters confirms that Amazon's deal with Stellantis to create this software is sunsetting after it missed the 2024 deadline. In a statement sent to the newswire, neither Stellantis nor Amazon told Reuters exactly why they had come to the decision. Still, they noted that each company would continue on its separate path. "Stellantis remains a valuable partner for Amazon, and the companies continue to work together on a range of initiatives," the two companies wrote in a statement to Reuters. They added that the break "will allow each team to focus on solutions that provide value to our shared customers and better align with our evolving strategies." The goal of SmartCockpit was to turn ordinary Chryslers, Dodges, Jeeps, Rams, as well as Fiats, Alfa Romeos, and Maseratis, into software-defined vehicles like those of rivals like Tesla, Rivian, and BYD. In Stellantis's 2022 release announcing and detailing its plans to develop SmartCockpit, the two companies said that the software in Stellantis-branded cars will "seamlessly integrate with customers' digital lives to create personalized, intuitive in-vehicle experiences through AI-enhanced applications for entertainment, Alexa-enabled voice assistance, navigation, vehicle maintenance, ecommerce marketplaces, and payment services." The 'STLA SmartCockpit platform,' as it was called, would use purpose-built Amazon products for Stellantis, integrate Amazon's Echo and Alexa smart home and security ecosystem, and create a smartphone-like in-car software experience tailored for specific vehicles and their owners. "For example, Chrysler Pacifica vehicles could offer a family-trip planner that recommends media content, points of interest, restaurants, and other fun stops along the route," Stellantis said. " Jeep® vehicles could come with a digital off-road 'coach' to help customers calibrate the vehicle and optimize performance before tackling tough terrain." At the time, then-Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares called the Amazon partnership "an integral part of our capability building roadmap," adding that Amazon's tech prowess would help transform the driving experience of its vehicles. "By leveraging artificial intelligence and cloud solutions, we will transform our vehicles into personalized living spaces and enhance the overall customer experience, making our vehicles the most wanted, most captivating place to be, even when not driving," Tavares said. The end of this partnership comes as Stellantis enters a transition period following the tenure of Carlos Tavares, with the newly appointed CEO, Antonio Filosa, taking the helm in June. I think that the rather quiet realization of the end of this partnership goes to show that Stellantis is prioritizing its approach going forward. That being said, the fact that we are in the era of the software-defined vehicle is rather interesting, especially considering that companies like Google (with Google Built-in) and Apple's CarPlay Ultra are making their way to dominate every screen on dashboards. If it came to light, having Amazon in the mix would have been a very left-field option. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bright Bridges Ministry amps up fight against homelessness, addiction
When Richards Memorial United Methodist Church moved to its current location off T Street in 1923, folks would come to services in their Sunday best, arriving in the popular automobiles of the day, from "Tin Lizzies" − a widely used term to describe the Ford Model T− to early Chryslers and Studebakers. By 1970, Richards Memorial UMC had 1,250 members and a huge church complex with a sanctuary and numerous additions for offices, classrooms, a nursery, children's areas, a chapel area, lounge areas and more. Every Sunday, the parking lot was full. Today? "If you come on Sunday, you won't see a lot of cars parked out front of our church," said church member Cheryl Hinnen. "The people who attend here are homeless people and people from the neighborhood who talk or ride their bikes. There are people who will ride their motorized vehicles for blocks to get here." Yes, church attendance has suffered in recent decades with demographic shifts and neighborhood changes. But the Brownsville church's mission has never been more vital or impactful than today, as its Bright Bridge Ministries has made it its mission to care for, feed and shelter those who are damaged, in need of help, in need of direction or maybe just a meal. As homelessness continues to hamper souls and city, ministries such as Bright Bridge and others are vital in the community. Hinnen is the Bright Bridge Ministries assistant director. "This church has been here for generations,'' Hinnen said. "But now, I tell people all the time to come see what's going on here now, because it's a beautiful thing." In 2007, the nonprofit, faith-based ministry was formed and began a community food program and other social programs. Bright Bridge Ministries began transforming the once-bustling church office spaces and numerous rooms into a haven for those seeking help and change. Bright Bridge Ministries opened its His Place shelter in 2017, which houses men who are homeless and often suffering from substance abuse problems. The shelter closed in 2020 because of safety concerns and was repaired and upgraded, reopening in 2022. Bright Bridge also offers much more than a men's shelter, including a food ministry program from 10 a.m. to noon every Monday through Friday that is open to the public. Each weekday volunteers prepare hot meals for men, women and children who sit and eat in the Bright Bridge cafeteria. (On the day we visited, volunteers were serving up goulash, roasted potatoes, salad, croissants and pie to folks who were under a canopy outside Bright Bridge Ministries while it rained, waiting for the kitchen to open. A few carried backpacks and sleeping bags along with them, while one had a shopping cart filled with possessions.) But many of the rooms that formerly served the church in other capacities are now converted into shelter space, with some emergency shelter available as well as beds for men who are part of Bright Bridge recovery programs. Currently, there are 50 beds at Bright Bridge. But soon, renovations will begin on another wing at the old church, largely unused, that will give Bright Bridge Ministries another 40 beds for men in need. On April 1, Bright Bridge Ministries hosts a "Bridge to Tomorrow" kickoff event to announce and talk about the project. The event begins at 12:30 p.m. at Bright Bridge Ministries, 2600 W. Strong St., which intersects T Street. Renovation costs are expected to be between $1.25 million and $1.5 million. Bright Bridge Ministries has secured $500,000, and is hoping to raise another $250,000 by May 1, which would be doubled with matching funds. The event will feature tours and a short graduation ceremony for men who have graduated from the ministry's Fresh Start Culinary Program, which teaches program residents cooking skills and techniques. "We're going to be able to house at least 40 more men on top of the 40 men that already sleep here every night in our transitional home shelter,'' said Rev. Ashlee Mosley Brown, pastor of Richards Memorial UMC and Bright Bridge Ministries executive director. "Since around 2006, we really have dedicated ourselves to helping our neighbors and have become more of a social service agency, even though we're still a church." Brown said that while the His Place shelter is for men only, all other Bright Bridge Ministries' programs and services are open to all. Other Bright Bridge Ministries programs include: Hygiene Ministry program where hygiene products are distributed Adult literacy program Yoga and meditation classes Finance classes Like skills, covering topics such as addiction, diabetes and healthy eating Workforce development All these programs are free and open to the public. Bright Bridges Ministries is not a drugs and alcohol treatment facility, but does host meetings for various recovery groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Grace Recovery Group and more. Men who stay in the shelter are referred by another agency or sometimes come off the street. They are assigned a case worker who starts crafting an individualized action plan. Some of the men are in the Level 1 shelter, where five to six men share a room, with each getting an individual bed in the partitioned room. There is no charge for those in Level 1 housing, but those who show progress and are able to find a job and save some money, are moved to Level 2, where there is a $400 a month fee, which includes shelter, food and program costs. Many of the men who make it to Level 2 have jobs and are able to pay the monthly fee and save money as well. "This place changed me and has given me the tools to survive in this world as a man," said Shaun Abram, 54, a Level 2 resident fighting drug and alcohol addiction who has been in the For Him shelter for about three months. "I had burned all my bridges and addiction had taken over my life. It took it over completely, but this place has helped me realize my priorities." He's found work but plans to stay in the program and at the shelter "for as long as it takes." In 2024, 364 men were housed in the His Place shelter, with 113 landing jobs during their stay, and 62 men moving into stable housing. While at the shelter, men are urged to volunteer and work in various capacities at Bright Bridge Ministries, including landscaping and kitchen work. After 20 hours of volunteer work, they are allowed to choose a bicycle from a collection of donated bikes at Bright Bridge Ministries, a bike they are allowed to keep. Shelter manager James Donaldson said the men earn confidence as they clean up their lives while at the shelter. He knows their pain and struggle. "I'm actually formerly homeless," Donaldson said, standing outside in a back patio area where men are allowed to smoke. "I'm a recovering drug addict and lived out of my car until I could get my act together and get back on my feet. That was almost 11 years ago." Level 2 shelter resident Juan Lopez, 55, has been at His Place since October. He soon landed a job at a commercial laundry place where they provide laundry service to hospitals and other large institutions. He's saving money and hoping to leave soon. "I'm here because I want to be here, not because anyone forced me to be here,'' he said. "You come because you want to get better. They teach you to respect yourself, because if you don't have respect for yourself, you can't give respect to others." He's having success in his battle against addiction, and when I noticed his awesome Air Jordans and a few other pair of nice shoes in his semi-private room, he said that wouldn't have been possible before. "Not with my addiction," he said. "It takes over you." Bright Bridges Ministries also has a residential home for those who make it to Level 3, who are on the verge of leaving. "They stay for as long as it takes," Brown said. "We tell them to make sure they're ready and just don't run out. We ask them if they have enough savings to handle that, and when they're ready and eager and able, then it's time." Hinnen said she hopes potential community partners would see the benefit of the Bright Bridge Ministries "Bright Bridge to Tomorrow" project. "I believe adding shelter beds in our community is a win for everyone,'' she said. "We have homeless people living on the streets now because we don't have a bed open. It's a win because we have people who have been able to find meaningful employment while here, and who have a bed and are finding stability. We have had families torn apart from addiction that have been able to find recovery, and so many times that leads to reconciliation for families. We think this is a project that the entire community can get behind." For more information and ways to help, go to This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Bright Bridges Ministry fights homelessness, addiction at shelter.
