Sony Pictures Entertainment is partnering with Vietnamese EV startup VinFast to launch a new in-vehicle streaming service in the U.S. this summer, the companies said.
Sony’s RIDEVU streaming service will be available to automakers and was developed specifically for integration into vehicle infotainment systems, the Sony business unit also known as SPE said in a press release Thursday.
VinFast, which began selling EVs in the U.S. in March, will debut the streaming service in new vehicles this summer. VinFast vehicles delivered to customers prior to the RIDEVU launch will receive an over-the-air update, the companies said.
VinFast plans to sell four imported EVs in North America at a variety of price points and has signed an agreement to build a U.S. assembly plant in North Carolina, with production expected in 2025.
“RIDEVU will offer consumers the opportunity to buy or rent hundreds of feature films and television series from the Sony Pictures library of premium content to stream anytime they want,” said SPE, which is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corp.
EV maker Tesla Inc. was a pioneer in offering in-car streaming on the large tablet-style infotainment screen that comes standard in all of its vehicles. Tesla offers services such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and Disney Plus.
Sony said that RIDEVU will allow multiscreen integration for both car screens and personal devices. Up to six devices can be used independently, including those using Apple and Android operating systems, SPE said. Pricing was not announced.
“With cars now equipped with the power and connectivity of modern computers, the potential for in-vehicle entertainment and services is virtually limitless,” said Pete Wood, senior vice president for digital sales and distribution at SPE.
“As we enter an era of electric and autonomous vehicles, SPE is excited to collaborate with automakers to develop new and innovative consumer services that will transform the entertainment landscape,” Wood said.