Published

BMW Autonomous-Driving Group to Add Rival Carmakers

BMW AG is close to coaxing at least two major carmakers to the coalition it launched in 2016 to speed development of self-driving-car technologies.

Share

BMW AG is close to coaxing at least two major carmakers to the coalition it launched in 2016 to speed development of self-driving-car technologies.

Klaus Froehlich, who heads BMW development, tells Bloomberg News, says there is accelerating interest in the group as carmakers realize how costly it will be to perfect robotic cars on their own.

The carmaker formed the consortium with computer vision developer Mobileye NV, now a part of Intel Corp., and several suppliers. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV joined the group last year. The alliance aims to deliver a fully developed autonomous driving system by 2021.

Carmakers each spent about $1 billion to develop technology suitable for semi-automated vehicles, Froehlich estimates. He says carmakers are growing ready to partner because they now realize those first-generation systems will be scrapped and replaced by far more advanced—and more expensive—technologies.

RELATED CONTENT

  • Jeeps Modified for Moab

    On Easter morning in Moab, Utah, when the population of that exceedingly-hard-to-get-to town in one of the most beautiful settings on Earth has more than doubled, some people won’t be hunting for Easter eggs, but will be trying to get a good look at one of the vehicles six that Jeep has prepared for real-life, fast-feedback from the assembled at the annual Easter Jeep Safari.

  • Engineering the 2019 Jeep Cherokee

    The Jeep Cherokee, which was launched in its current manifestation as a model year 2014 vehicle, and which has just undergone a major refresh for MY 2019, is nothing if not a solid success.

  • When Automated Production Turning is the Low-Cost Option

    For the right parts, or families of parts, an automated CNC turning cell is simply the least expensive way to produce high-quality parts. Here’s why.

Gardner Business Media - Strategic Business Solutions