The CEO of the Volkswagen Group, Herbert Diess, is committed to leading global sales of electric vehicles and the entire strategy implemented, with new vehicles, specific platforms for battery cars and factories optimized for new needs, supports this ambition to dominate the market. . But it seems that someone “forgot” again the importance of software, the programming that makes everything else work and stuff, by not meeting expectations, you continue to delay important projects for brands such as Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche and Bentley.
The problems with the software started at the same time as with the VW ID. 3, the first tram of the new wave of the German group. Given its vast experience in vehicle manufacturing, being the world’s largest group at the time, Volkswagen AG knew that software was crucial in electric vehicles. That is why it has internally reinforced this department, to which it has added dozens of promising startups specialized in this area, which it has acquired. Even so, the results were lower than expected.
Difficulties with the software were associated with the first models released, especially with the ID. 3which was the first to be marketed at the end of 2019. Among other problems, it took two years to wait so the possibility of performing software updates was finally announced through the air (OTA), to keep models already delivered up to date without having to visit the workshop. In 2022, the German group fails again in this matter, although apparently at another level.
After the specific platform for small and medium-sized trams, MEB, which served VW (ID. 3, ID. 4, ID. 5 and ID. Buzz), Audi, Skoda and Cupra, having also been sold to Ford, Volkswagen AG started to develop the new PPE platform for medium and high rangesintended to service some VW models, but also many Audi, Porsche, Bentley and, of course, Lamborghini, whose first electric car to be made will be an SUV.
According to the German publication Automobilwoche, the Audi Artemis project, which will give rise to electric models such as the future A6, A7 and A8, in addition to the corresponding SUVs, it was supposed to hit the market in 2024, but it will have been delayed until 2027. VW has similar problems with the high-end Trinity saloon, scheduled for 2026 and which will presumably go back one more year. Porsche also has models supported by the PPE, starting with the Electric Macan, also threatened by delays, with the German marque already admitting to Automotive News that “The hardware exists, but the software is still missing”. The same will happen with Bentley and Lamborborghini, for SUVs and electric saloons.
The German group recognizes that the software of a vehicle is today as important as a model being attractive or powerful, which explains the use of greater support from German companies in the area of programming. For this reason, in January it announced the creation of Cariad, in partnership with Bosch, with the aim of developing software for advanced driving assistance functions. And this association with Bosch turns out to be an admission of need for outside help, since until then Cariad was an internal project aimed at autonomous driving. It is precisely the software that Cariad must provide that is delaying the new vehicles that are being designed in the PPE.
Source: Observadora
