Today, Volkswagen's software company CARIAD China subsidiary was officially established to efficiently and agilely develop localized and innovative software applications for the Chinese market and ensure data compliance.
Wen 丨 wisdom driving network Huang Huadan
CARIAD is the "Car. I Am Digital".
In the pursuit of automotive digitalization, the Current Chinese market is probably the second, and no one dares to call it the first. Naturally, China became Volkswagen's software company CARIAD's first overseas subsidiary after its European headquarters.
Today's press conference also changed the public's serious and serious image. Digital main stage, relaxed atmosphere, cleanly dressed host is CARIAD employees, but also involved in the development of the project. CEO Evergreen wears a gray linen shirt, jeans and board shoes, unlike the CEO, but more cultural style.
According to CARIAD staff, this is the culture of the company. The whole press conference listened to it, giving people the feeling of being young, full of vitality and not being pretentious.
CARIAD is indeed young. Even the European headquarters will only be independent from the volkswagen software department in 2020. To help Volkswagen, a giant, turn around smoothly under the current wave of "software-defined cars," CARIAD really needs extraordinary vitality.
Seeing the enthusiastic face on the big screen behind Changqing at today's press conference, you will absolutely believe that digital transformation, the public is serious.
CARIAD's mission is to build a full-stack software technology development capability.
The software platform currently being developed by CARIAD includes a production software platform for MEB platform models, which will enable OTAs on specific models.
The China team will lead the implementation of the ID.family of products OTA in China. The first update is expected to take place in the second half of 2022.
The second is a high-end software platform for PPE platforms that will support infotainment systems and advanced driver assistance systems. It is scheduled to be launched within two years.
The Chinese team led the development of China-specific applications for both systems.
In addition, like Mercedes-Benz preparing to develop its own MB.OS, Volkswagen will also develop its own operating system VW.OS and connect to the Volkswagen Cloud VW. AC。 In the future, the system will be applicable to all Volkswagen Group brands. It is expected to be launched around 2025 and pre-equipped with L4 level autonomous driving technology.
The Chinese team will lead and participate in 70% of the R&D work involving the new software platform technology stack and product line, including local R&D and adaptation. At the same time, the China team will also develop data backends that meet data compliance requirements locally.
In addition to localization, ensuring data compliance should also be an important reason for Volkswagen to establish a CARIAD subsidiary in China in the first place.
Under the overall framework of the three platforms, the primary task of CARIAD China subsidiary is to quickly and effectively produce software products that meet the needs of consumers in the Chinese market, providing Chinese users with a smart, fresh, interesting and safe travel experience.
CTO Sun Wei, who has many years of experience in software development, said that CARIAD's concept of measuring new product development is "OIC".
"O" stands for Original, originality, "I" stands for Impression, to create impressive features, "C" stands for Rooted In Car, car connectivity, in-vehicle software innovation should not repeat mobile phone applications, but should really come from the car's own capability ecology. Incorporating the car's unique experience, functionality and scalability into innovation, CARIAD is going to be a true "car-native" application.
In order to achieve the efficient promotion of R&D iteration, CARIAD China introduced its two R&D processes.
The first is the "Forward" innovation action. That is, to propose innovative planning and R&D methods more agility on a quarterly basis, and then to integrate the selected innovative products into the digital lifecycle management process and system of the E&E architecture product line in a timely manner, and finally bring them to the market through relevant models after completion of development.
The second is the standardized process management toolchain PMT, the three letters represent the process, method and toolchain, which is an integrated platform composed of more than 50 customized and self-developed tools, one-stop support for a variety of technology stacks and development languages in automotive software development, and has a high degree of automation capabilities.
The combination of the two processes enables the rapid screening of high-quality ideas, the completion of development, the continuous delivery of high-quality software and different runtimes to all customers throughout the product lifecycle, and ensuring that the product meets all relevant policy and regulatory requirements.
At the press conference, Sun Wei introduced one of the "Forward" innovative projects " Rainbow " project. This is a user experience category project "OOTD", or Outfit of Today, dressed.
In a nutshell, the atmosphere in the cockpit changes with the driver's outfit that day. Includes desktop themes for infotainment systems, ambient light band colors, greetings, music, and more. This is achieved by sensing the color and style of the clothes through an artificial intelligence camera on the rearview mirror.
Subsequently, the user experience application design and development software "Rainbow Composer" independently developed by CARIAD's Chinese subsidiaries will also be directly open to designers and even consumers, allowing car owners to personalize their cockpit environment.
This function can be said to be very much in line with the needs of contemporary young people in the pursuit of individuality.
Another feature that is in line with the Chinese market is the V2X smart interconnection solution. This year, the government will vigorously promote the coordinated development of intelligent and connected vehicles and smart cities. Many car companies have developed models with V2X capabilities.
Li Xi, head of the renovation project, said that three sets of intelligent network functions have been developed: traffic light information (TLI), hazard warning (LHW) and hazard information prompt (LHI), and have been deployed in the latest Audi models in the Chinese market.
To borrow a famous quote from Silicon Valley: "Software is devouring the world." "In the wave of digitalization, China is particularly at the forefront. As Volkswagen's largest single market overseas, China's importance is unquestionable.
Like BMW calling China home, the public cannot be said to be indifferent to this market. The Chinese market is special, under the dual impetus of the market and policies, a large number of startups have poured into the industry, making the electrification and intelligent volume of Chinese cars unprecedented. Of course, it is also full of vitality and vitality.
We are looking forward to seeing the giants who have been swept up by the new forces turn around beautifully.
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