Automotive News Daily Drive Nov. 23, 2025 | Bonus Episode: VW Microbus fire survivor; Amazon Web Services’ Stefano Marzani
Nov 23, 2025
Stefano Marzani, an executive at Amazon Web Services, dives into the complexities of cellular connectivity for vehicles, highlighting the promise of new technologies like CV2X and AWS Wavelength to reduce latency. Rachael Zaluzec, VP of brand marketing at Volkswagen of America, shares the inspiring story of 'Azul,' a restored VW Microbus that survived the Palisades fire. She discusses its journey from rescue to restoration and its role as a symbol of hope showcased proudly at the LA Auto Show.
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Networks Evolve But Fragility Persists
- Cellular connectivity standards keep advancing (LTE → 5G → talk of 6G) but networks remain fragile due to sunsets and access gaps.
- Stefano Marzani highlights that technical capability exists, but regulatory, frequency and adoption issues limit practical deployment.
Tech Works; Industry Must Agree
- CV2X and other direct-vehicle standards are technically mature but stall over regulation, frequency allocation, and industry adoption.
- Marzani stresses that agreement among industry players is required before these solutions become widely practical.
Place Compute Near The Tower
- Use edge computing and partnerships with carriers to reduce latency and increase throughput for connected vehicle use cases.
- Marzani recommends colocating compute (e.g., AWS Wavelength) near cell towers for data-heavy needs like autonomous driving.