Volkswagen is focusing its development activities on autonomous and highly automated driving. The company is consolidating its development partnerships for autonomous driving service (MaaS/TaaS), as per Electric Cars Report.
In addition, the manufacturer will not invest in Argo AI. in individual mobility anymore. Cariad continues to drive forward the development of highly automated and autonomous driving with Bosch and in China with Horizon Robotics in the future.
“Especially in the development of future technologies, focus and speed count. Our goal is to offer our customers the most powerful functions at the earliest possible time and to set up our development as cost-effectively as possible,” says Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen AG.
Autonomous driving development is a critical component of the Volkswagen NEW AUTO strategy. Within the brand, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles oversees this development’s implementation, especially for the Mobility and Transportation as a Service (MaaS / TaaS) aspects.
Meanwhile, the technology company Cariad is in charge of developing partial and highly automated driving functions (up to SAE Level 4) for VW’s passenger car brands.
The two companies continue to drive the development of autonomous driving technologies with development partners.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles expands cooperation
According to a press release by the company, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWN) is further expanding its cooperation into developing autonomous driving mobility fleets technology with a partner.
It will be announced shortly—correspondingly equipped ID. Buzz prototypes are already on track with this partner in a test program. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ goal for autonomous driving is still the same. Customers are expected to be able to utilize MOIA to book the autonomously driving ID. Buzz in Hamburg in 2025.
“In the course of the cooperation with another partner, the collaboration within the group to develop highly automated and autonomous driving will also be strengthened.” explains Christian Senger, member of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand board of management responsible for MaaS/TaaS and Autonomous Driving,
Cariad drives development on Level 3 driving functions for passenger car VW brands with partners
Cariad continues driving development for individual mobility in the Automated Driving Alliance with Bosch.
The companies will aim to make partially and highly automated driving appropriate for mass use and available for everyone.
The goal is to provide functions for vehicles of Volkswagen’s volume brands that explicitly lets drivers take their hands off the steering wheel.
“These are advanced driver assistance systems, called level 2 systems, for city, countryside and highway, in which the driver is comprehensively backed by the vehicle, and a system in which the vehicle takes over the complete driving task on the highway (SAE level 3). The first functions will be implemented in 2023.” per the press release.
In addition, Cariad plans to collaborate with Horizon Robotics to push automated driving development on a regional basis in the Chinese market.
In the aspect of hardware, the Group also partnered with Qualcomm for high-performance chips for automated driving.
Continuous employment of Argo AI employees
Volkswagen is working with Argo AI to provide continuous employment for employees and develop the most promising projects in the field of autonomous driving.
All while other collaborations with Ford remain unchanged.
