Volkswagen, Mobileye Strike New Self-Driving Car Deal

The Volkswagen Group has deepened its relationship with Israeli self-driving tech company Mobileye in a move that will see more automated functionality deployed in a series of production vehicles.

The companies confirmed they are working on three different levels of technology: hands-free, eyes-on driving; eyes-off systems; and fully autonomous vehicles.

And intriguingly, the advances will be deployed across several different brands.

First, Volkswagen ADMT, a subsidiary of the main Volkswagen Group, has confirmed that Mobileye will provide a self-driving system to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for a Level 4 version of the Volkswagen ID.Buzz.

Level 4, as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers, means the vehicle drives itself in a specific area.

The Mobileye tech comprises software and hardware, including two high-performance computers, nine lidar sensors and five radar units, plus incorporates data from other road users about the local traffic situation.

The intent is to develop the fully self-driving Volkswagen ID.Buzz for widespread use in mobility and transport services by 2026. According to Christian Senger, a member of the board of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, this would make it “the world’s first fully autonomous large-scale production vehicle.” 

Related:Major Automaker Chooses Mobileye for Self-Driving Tech, CES 2024

Volkswagen has extensively tested early versions of the autonomous ID.Buzz over the past few years, first with tech supplied by the now defunct Argo AI, and then using Mobileye systems.

The production versions of the VW ID.Buzz AD will be used for ride-hailing – an area where Volkswagen has extensive experience, thanks to its MOIA ride-pooling program in Hamburg, which has transported 10 million passengers in five years – plus delivery of freight.

At the same time, Mobileye will also provide tech to develop Level 2+ partially automated functionality and Level 3 highly automated functionality based on its existing SuperVision and Chauffeur platforms.

These will be applied to four of the premium passenger car brands in the Volkswagen Group portfolio – Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Porsche – and will allow assistance on highways and in cities, including automated overtaking on multi-lane roads, automatic stopping at red lights and support at intersections and roundabouts.

Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group and Porsche, hailed the agreement, saying: “New automated driving functions will significantly boost convenience and safety. These functions, which will be tailored to our brands and products, will make every trip a personal, individual experience. In Mobileye, we have an additional first-class partner to shape this automotive future together.”

Mobileye teased the deal at CES in January, and Professor Amnon Shashua, Mobileye’s president and CEO said: “Through these programs, we see Volkswagen Group leading the industry in putting AI-powered advanced driver assistance technology in the hands of consumers globally and developing new services with autonomous vehicles.” 

Despite the solidified relationship, the Volkswagen Group has reiterated that its long-term aim is to develop its own tech in-house, and existing partnerships with Bosch, Qualcomm and, in China, Horizon Robotics, are all working toward that.