Volkswagen may have only recently received backing from autonomous driving startup Argo AI, but it is reportedly already considering a new partner.
Reuters reports that the German automaker is planning to expand its partnership with Intel Mobileye to include its autonomous driving program, according to two sources familiar with the plan.
Mobileye, which develops a range of autonomous driving technologies, already has a working partnership with Cariad, Volkswagen’s software division.
Cariad is currently taking a lead role in the effort to develop Level 3 autonomous driving technology following the closure of Argo AI.
“If you’ve already achieved good results with a partner, it makes sense to work with them in other areas as well,” one of the sources said. Reuters.
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ID Argo AI. ADVERTISING Buzz
Mobileye began trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange earlier this week in connection with an initial public offering (IPO) worth more than $20 billion ($31 billion).
Established in 2016, Argo AI backed by Volkswagen and Ford received a $1 billion ($A1.55 billion) investment from Blue Oval and subsequently raised an additional $2.6 billion (A4 billion) — largely from Ford and Volkswgen.
Ford recently recorded a pre-tax loss of $2.7 billion ($A4.19 billion) on its investment in Argo AI, while Volkswagen may have to write a write-down of more than €1 billion (A1). $.55 billion), according to a source close to the company.
Volkswagen has committed to working with Argo AI “to provide continuous employment for employees and further develop the most promising projects in the field of autonomous driving”.
“The aim is to provide functions for vehicles belonging to the Volkswagen Group brand groups, allowing the driver to clearly take their hands off the wheel,” the German automaker said. German automaker said in regards to the ongoing development of autonomous driving technology.
“These are advanced driver assistance systems, so-called Level 2 systems, for the city, country and motorway, in which the driver is fully assisted by the vehicle and a system within the vehicle. The car then assumes all driving duties on the highway (SAE level 3).
“The first functions will be rolled out in 2023.”
Volkswagen notes that Cariad will handle the development of “partial driving functions and high automation” up to Level 4 autonomy, and will continue to work with Bosch. In the future, it will also work with Horizon Robotics in China.
Deployment plan Autonomous ID. Buzz everyone in motion virtually unaffected at this point.
Volkswagen expects customers by 2025 to be able to use the car-sharing service MOIA to order self-driving IDs. Buzz in Hamburg in 2025.
Volkswagen Commercial Car also said it would soon announce plans to expand cooperation to develop technology for its fleets of self-driving cars.
“In coordination with our shareholders, we have made the decision that Argo AI will no longer carry out its mission as a company,” Argo said in a statement.
“Many employees will receive the opportunity to continue working on autonomous driving technology with Ford or Volkswagen, while jobs for others will no longer be available.”
TechCrunch Generous severance packages are being offered to people not employed by Ford or Volkswagen. It has more than 2000 employees globally, despite laying off about 150 people in July.
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