As automakers around the world partner up with leading tech companies, Volkswagen is taking a different approach, developing its autonomous software in-house.
Autonomous driving and connected vehicles are one of the next big steps for the automotive industry. Many automakers are paring up with leading tech companies, such as Ford partnering with Google.
Volkswagen, on the other hand, is planning to develop its software in-house, according to U.S. News & World Report. The company is not ruling out collaboration with outside companies on some aspects, but clearly wants to develop the bulk on its its own.
“We have a size that makes us want to cooperate with ourselves initially,” said Markus Duesmann, CEO of Audi (Volkswagen’s luxury brand). Duesmann also indicated his confidence that Volkswagen is in a position to create new standards for automotive software development, and is open to other companies joining those efforts.
Volkswagen certainly has the size and scale to tackle a project of this size. It should be interesting to see how its software stacks up with those of its rivals.