The first VW autonomous vehicles powered by Argo AI
VW rented a 55k sm large area at the Munich airport to tests the vehicle. 220 cubic meters of concrete, 16km cable conduits and a fence more than one kilometer long was erected
The 2nd phase to increase the area by 36k sm is scheduled for end of 2022
VW invested $2.6bn in Argo AI a company as you can see in the pictures is using in contrast to Tesla literally all available sensors
While Tesla vehicles drive with FSD Beta on all roads in the USA already, Argo AI is testing in a dedictaed controlled fenced area
Airport speaker,
"We are very pleased that Argo AI, one of the world's leading companies in the field of autonomous vehicle technology, is locating here. The new test area raises the profile of our airport as a location for intelligent and forward-looking mobility concepts" 🤔
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Legacy manufacturers use the term OTA updates as if customers don't known that it suppose to 'update vehicle software over the air'
How stupid do you believe your customers are? 🤨
VW informed that the 4 OTA SW updates they plan each year require the vehicle to be switched on or driving
SW is not downloaded if the switch on button is not activated
IOW either you drive around or you need to sit in your ID until the download is finished
No kidding 🤭
Once the download is finished the vehicle must be without a driver or passenger throughout the actualization process, the battery must have at least 50% charge and all vehicle consumers must be switched off
Audi CEO Duesman's e-tron issues
"It has been set that the last model with a combustion engine will be phased out in 2033. The only country where we want to remain responsive is China where electrification which was initially progressing rapidly has recently slowed down somewhat"
VW makes 40% of its revenue today in China and the rate is increasing
By excluding China from the phase-out of ICE Audi is literally saying that their most important and largest market will continue with ICE and no end date is given
VW Brand with 6 - 800,000 fewer vehicles in 🇨🇳 China in 2021 according to BI claiming internal sources
The issue: Semiconductor shortages
CEO Brandstätter under increasing internal pressure
A VW Manager "Brandstätter can't bang on the table and it rains semiconductors"
The VW speaker claims they could compensate with other vehicles sold in Q1
"Fortunately, so far we have been able to noticeably limit the negative impact for our customers and thus on delivery figures, for example by selling off stock vehicles and other measures"
The VW brand stimulated discussions includes discontinuing the Seat production altogether so that the core VW brand would have more semiconductors at its disposal
A Manager cited an internal VW joke, "There still has to be someone standing between you and responsibility"
"Of course the performance of the engine & the range of the 🔋 are still important for EV. But software will become a decisive competitive factor in the future. For customers it will be the most important element in the future in how they experience our cars"
CEO Brandstätter
"The digital experience in our vehicles, the software, will become decisive for the purchase decision, from the quality of the driving assistance functions to connectivity and infotainment. We are seeing the same trend everywhere - in Europe, Asia and America."
Head of VW SW Organisation Cariad, Hilgenberg about the speed or ramping SW competence
"The dimension of time is not our friend here. We have to act quickly because we are in a race to catch up and close the gap to our competitors."