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Production of the ID.3 by VW in Dresden: Microsoft is one of the few tech giants that does not have its own car project
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Matthias Rietschel / dpa
Do you at Volkswagen in Wolfsburg still remember the words of the former CEO Martin Winterkorn from 2014?
He had warned at the time: “The car must not become a data octopus.” Since 2018, however, VW has been cooperating with Microsoft in setting up a cloud platform for data exchange between networked vehicles - now both are significantly expanding their partnership.
Microsoft's cloud services are to be used when building a platform for developers, as the company announced.
The aim is to accelerate the provision of applications through the knowledge of the US group in the field of cloud computing and software engineering, said the head of Volkswagen's software subsidiary Car.Software.Org, Dirk Hilgenberg.
VW.OS operating system under development
Specifically, it is about the development of driver assistance systems, automated driving functions and, ultimately, software updates, which are carried out wirelessly, as with Tesla.
“This functionality has to be there.
If you can't do that, you'll lose ground, ”said Hilgenberg.
Microsoft's cloud vice president Scott Guthrie compared this with smartphones, which are now regularly updating in the background.
Volkswagen is hoping for faster development cycles.
For example, VW should be able to build its own software tools based on Microsoft's services.
In addition to the secure transmission of data, the software company should also bring its artificial intelligence capabilities with it.
Microsoft did not get access to the VW data, stressed Guthrie.
Car manufacturers such as VW are working on their own operating systems so that IT giants such as Apple, Google or Amazon do not do business with car data.
The Volkswagen Group has brought together software developers from corporate brands such as Audi, Porsche or Bentley in the company Car.Software.Org, which most recently has around 5000 employees who develop the VW.OS operating system.
It's about the whole range of vehicle functions, a platform for infotainment systems, chassis technology and new business models.
Microsoft is one of the few tech giants without its own auto project.
The Google sister company Waymo and Apple are working on their own software for autonomous driving, while Amazon bought the robot car company Zoox.
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apr / dpa / Reuters
