Autonomous driving to be introduced by Volkswagen and Bosch, starting from the year 2026
Volkswagen and Bosch, in collaboration with Bosch's partnership with Volkswagen Group's software subsidiary Cariad, are set to revolutionize the automotive industry with state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) in automated driving systems for Level 2 and Level 3 driving. The production-ready software stack, expected by mid-2026, aims to create intelligent driver assistance systems that emulate human driving, offering hands-free driving in various scenarios while improving safety and driving experience.
Partnership and Development
The companies have intensified cooperation within their "Automated Driving Alliance," independently developing all AI-based software components and utilizing large volumes of data from extensive test fleets operating in Europe, Japan, and the USA, including vehicles like the VW ID.Buzz and Audi Q8.
Target Automation Levels
The focus is on enhancing Level 2 (partial automation) and Level 3 (conditional automation) driving functions, rather than higher levels like Level 4. The new system is designed to act as naturally as a human driver, handling complex urban traffic and predicting behavior of other road users.
Integration and Scalability
Volkswagen plans to integrate these automated driving functions into its new software-defined vehicle architecture, reflecting a move towards scalable, mass-market deployment beyond premium vehicles. Bosch also intends to offer this AI-driven software solution to other manufacturers globally to democratize automated driving.
Safety and Data Strategy
The alliance is aggressively collecting and using high-quality sensor data from hundreds of test vehicles to continuously train and optimize the AI stack, particularly to manage rare or complex driving scenarios known as "corner cases."
Ambitions and Industry Context
Volkswagen and Bosch aim to challenge international tech giants in AI-driven autonomous vehicle technology, marking a significant step for the German automotive industry to keep pace with competitors like Amazon, Google, Baidu, and Intel. By bringing affordable, AI-based automated driving from niche to mass adoption, the companies are set to make a substantial impact in the industry.
Availability and Accessibility
The first cars equipped with this technology could be available as early as 2027. Volkswagen and Bosch aim to make automated driving available to millions of private drivers by mid-2026, with the goal of making the comfort and safety of automated driving systems accessible to as many people as possible. Bosch will make the software architecture available to other manufacturers worldwide.
The new software can analyze urban traffic scenarios and anticipate both current and potential behavior of road users, making for a smoother and safer driving experience. With these advancements, the future of automotive technology is looking increasingly promising.
The Commission, in light of the advancements in automotive technology, might consider incorporating AI-driven automated driving systems in the proposed directive on the protection of workers, considering the potential risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation from driverless cars. Adopting a lifestyle of environmentally-friendly choices, individuals could soon find themselves in a world where AI technology in cars, such as the VW ID.Buzz and Audi Q8, offers smooth and safer urban driving experiences, thanks to the collaboration between Volkswagen and Bosch.
