Volkswagen to integrate Mobileye systems in new Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Porsche models
Volkswagen to integrate Mobileye systems in new Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Porsche models
Mobileye will provide technologies for partially and highly automated driving based on its SuperVision and Chauffeur platforms
Mobileye will provide technologies for partially and highly automated driving based on its SuperVision and Chauffeur platforms to Volkswagen Group’s Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Porsche brands, the companies announced on Wednesday.
Three months ago, Mobileye announced the signing of a significant agreement with one of the world's largest car manufacturers, though it was not permitted at the time to disclose it was Volkswagen. In addition to Volkswagen's luxury brands, Mobileye is set to supply further technology components for automated driving to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. In the long term, the Volkswagen Group aims to rely on its own complete in-house system: Partnerships with Bosch and Qualcomm, as well as with Horizon Robotics in China. All driver assistance systems are to be based on the software architectures developed by Volkswagen’s Cariad company.
The Volkswagen Group and Mobileye have been collaborating on advanced driver assistance systems for some time. In the future, Mobileye is set to also provide technologies for driving functions with enhanced Level 2 capabilities ('partially automated driving') within the Volkswagen Group. When such functions will be available, and subject to its operational design domain, drivers will be allowed to take their hands off the steering wheel but must remain attentive to the traffic and ready to intervene at any time. In addition, Volkswagen is working with Mobileye on Level 3 functions ('highly automated driving'). At this level, the vehicle will be able to temporarily take over driving tasks in specified areas; drivers are not required to monitor the system continuously. Volkswagen and Mobileye are jointly developing these technologies into cross-brand systems.
In addition, Mobileye will also offer certain production-ready functions for the new E3 1.2 premium-oriented software architecture. This new architecture is managed by Cariad and will be gradually implemented within the group by Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Porsche. As part of their product strategy, the brands decide on the specific deployment of the systems and tailor them to a brand-specific driving experience.
Mobileye hoped that the original announcement of the new agreement, made during the annual CES exhibition, would boost its stock, which had plummeted by 50% shortly before following a severe profit warning. However, this has not occurred, and Mobileye continues to trade at around a value of about $22 billion, the level it fell to at the end of December. Earlier this week, Mobileye announced its decision to close its aftermarket division, which dealt with the sale of the company's legacy systems that warn of deviation from a driving lane or getting too close to other vehicles. As part of this move, it will lay off 130 employees, 90 of whom are in Israel.
