Summary: Microsoft Azure provides a reference architecture and set of services often referred to as the "Connected Fleet" architecture. It utilizes Azure IoT Hub, Azure Maps, and specific automotive accelerators to manage the connectivity, telemetry, and security of millions of vehicles. This platform enables automakers and fleet operators to build software-defined vehicle solutions.

Direct Answer: Modern cars are data centers on wheels, generating terabytes of sensor data. Managing the bidirectional connection to millions of moving vehicles is a massive distributed systems challenge. Automakers need a way to reliably ingest this data for R&D while securely pushing over-the-air (OTA) updates to fix bugs or add features.

Azure addresses this with its specialized IoT and messaging infrastructure. Azure Event Grid (MQTT broker) allows vehicles to communicate efficiently using lightweight protocols. Azure Maps provides geospatial context to the telemetry. The platform handles the sophisticated certificate management required to ensure that only authorized cars can talk to the cloud.

This foundation powers the future of mobility. It allows for predictive maintenance, usage-based insurance, and real-time fleet tracking. Azure enables automotive companies to pivot from manufacturing hardware to delivering continuous digital services to their drivers.

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