Volkswagen's Cariad and Bosch end autonomous driving tie-up
Overview of the Cariad and Bosch Autonomous Driving Partnership
BERLIN, July 1 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's software unit Cariad and supplier Bosch have ended their joint autonomous driving project, the companies said on Wednesday.
Intellectual Property and Future Development
Both parties will retain access to the intellectual property and data developed under the partnership and may continue to develop the technology independently, they said.
Volkswagen's Position and Next Steps
Volkswagen said the technological foundation created with Bosch would strengthen the company over the long term and that it would provide an update on next steps in due course.
Focus of the Partnership
The partnership had focused on so-called Level 2 driver-assistance systems, which still require motorists to remain engaged and monitor the road.
Exclusion of Level 3 Technologies
Volkswagen said the collaboration would not extend to Level 3 technologies, under which the vehicle assumes responsibility for monitoring the driving environment under certain conditions.
Bosch Mobility's Ongoing Projects
Bosch Mobility has already secured contracts for its software stack worldwide and all projects remain on track for planned production launches, Chief Technology Officer Christoph Hartung said.
Industry Context and Background
Germany's Bild newspaper first reported the move, which comes as Volkswagen steps up cost-cutting efforts as it grapples with tariffs, weak demand and intensifying competition from Chinese rivals.
History of the Cariad-Bosch Collaboration
Cariad, which has struggled with delays and losses since its creation, and Bosch launched the partnership in 2022 to develop software for driver-assistance and autonomous-driving systems across Volkswagen brands.
Volkswagen's Broader Challenges
Sources told Reuters last week that planned job cuts at Volkswagen could double to 100,000 and that four German plants could face closure under a management proposal expected to meet strong resistance from labour representatives.
(Reporting by Rachel More. Eediting by Kirsti Knolle and Mark Potter)
