Volkswagen Group is collaborating with Microsoft to build a cloud-based Automated Driving Platform (ADP) on Microsoft Azure. Both Volkswagen and Microsoft have been partners on the Volkswagen Automotive Cloud since 2018. The new collaboration will facilitate delivering automated driving experiences across the globe at a faster rate.
As we transform Volkswagen Group into a digital mobility provider, we are looking to continuously increase the efficiency of our software development. We are building the Automated Driving Platform with Microsoft to simplify our developers’ work through one scalable and data-based engineering environment. By combining our comprehensive expertise in the development of connected driving solutions with Microsoft’s cloud and software engineering know-how, we will accelerate the delivery of safe and comfortable mobility services, – Dirk Hilgenberg, CEO of the Car. Software Organisation.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and automated driving vehicles may help improve passenger safety and reduce congestion. However, building such a network requires large-scale computational capabilities.
To overcome the challenges this venture might face, Car. Software organizations will collaborate with Microsoft to simplify the developer experience. Microsoft Azure, on the other hand, will help with the development environment for Car.Software Organisation’s developers. ADP will come in handy in reducing the development cycle to just weeks while at the same time managing a huge amount of data.
The Volkswagen Group is interested in digitizing the cars and likewise has increased the in-house developed software in the cars. The group is planning to invest around 27 billion euros by 2025 for realizing that venture.
Since 2018, Volkswagen and Microsoft have been collaborating on the Volkswagen Automotive Cloud (VW.AC). The first VW.AC connected test fleets that are supposed to launch sometime in 2021.
However, the production for the same is planned for 2022. The cloud connectivity is proving to be of immense help for Volkswagen as it is helping the company to deliver vehicle updates and new features independently of the vehicle hardware.
