** Cerence's shares last up 115.5% at $17.09 on Fri after co announced expanded collaboration with Nvidia for its artificial-intelligence automotive product

** CRNC shares jumped as much as 150.8% to $19.89 to highest levels since early Feb 2024 ** Burlington, Massachusetts-based software firm early Fri said NVDA to help power its language models for in-vehicle computing technology, designed to develop cars that respond to drivers' voices

** Through the collaboration, Cerence said expects to help deliver advanced performance, faster in-vehicle assistance, and enhanced privacy and security

** More than 121 mln CRNC shares have traded so far, marking busiest session on record. Stock's 10-DMA volume is about 1.9 mln shares, per LSEG data

** Co has current market cap of roughly $730 mln and 40 mln shares of public float

** In 2024, stock lost 60% of its value

** Of 7 analysts covering CRNC, 1 rates "buy", rest recommend "hold"; median PT of $6 up from $4.25 on Oct 3

(Lance Tupper is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own) ((lance.tupper@tr.com 1-646-279-6380))