Volkswagen considers Chinese software for European cars
The carmaker is discussing possible use of a vehicle architecture developed with Xpeng in European volume models.
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Volkswagen is considering using the electronic architecture it developed with Chinese company Xpeng in European models as well. Reuters reports this, citing a report by Manager Magazin. Volkswagen has not substantively confirmed the report.
According to Reuters, the system in question would be the China Electronic Architecture, in which vehicle functions are controlled through central computers and zones. Reuters says the technology could form the basis for future models from Volkswagen, Škoda and Cupra. According to the report, the discussions would concern around three-quarters of the next-generation models from those brands.
Volkswagen is already working on a different software architecture for the Western market. The group is developing that architecture together with the American technology company Rivian. According to Reuters, the partnership amounts to an investment of $5.8 billion.
Volkswagen says on its own website that the architecture developed with Xpeng is intended for the Chinese market and is already in series production there. The company describes the partnership as part of its strategy to develop vehicles in China together with local partners. In a recent company description, Volkswagen says at the same time that development with Rivian for the Western market is continuing.
The possible European application therefore does not automatically appear to mean that Volkswagen is ending its partnership with Rivian. Reuters writes that the choice could nevertheless sideline Rivian within the software strategy. It is not yet known whether the plans will be approved, exactly which models would be affected or when European cars might receive the technology.
For Volkswagen, the issue concerns speed, costs and control over vehicle software. Software determines an increasing number of functions in modern cars, including infotainment, connectivity and over-the-air updates. An architecture already operating in China could, according to the company's reasoning, be deployed more quickly than a system still being further developed in Europe.
At the same time, the technology's origins could raise questions about data, dependencies and European control over digital vehicle functions. It is not yet known how European regulators would assess any application. According to the reports, this is so far an internal proposal; Volkswagen has not substantively confirmed it.
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The technical partnership between Volkswagen and Xpeng and the parallel partnership with Rivian have been confirmed by Volkswagen itself. The new European use is correctly described as a possible internal proposal, because Reuters bases this on a media report and Volkswagen has not provided substantive confirmation.
- confirmed Volkswagen is considering using the architecture developed with Xpeng for European volume models. — Reuters reports this, citing Manager Magazin; the consideration has not been confirmed by Volkswagen itself. source
- confirmed The China Electronic Architecture was developed together with Xpeng for the Chinese market. — Confirmed in a Volkswagen publication from 2024. source
- confirmed Volkswagen is developing software technology for the Western market together with Rivian. — Confirmed by Volkswagen on its website. source
- confirmed The partnership with Rivian represents an investment of $5.8 billion. — Mentioned in the Reuters report. source
Editor's note
Reuters reports an internal proposal based on Manager Magazin; Volkswagen has confirmed the Chinese architecture and its partnership with Xpeng, but not the plan to expand it to Europe. The decision, timing and models involved remain uncertain.Sources
- Volkswagen considers using Chinese software for Europe, report says — Reuters
- Smart vehicles at ‘China speed’: Volkswagen develops high-performance E/E architecture for electric vehicles in China with XPENG — Volkswagen Group
- How Volkswagen is accelerating innovation in vehicle development — Volkswagen Group
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „volkswagen xpeng”
- RTL Nieuws — „volkswagen xpeng”
- FD — „volkswagen xpeng”