Posted on 18 Apr 2024
German carmaker Volkswagen Group and Chinese smart EV manufacturer Xpeng announced on Wednesday their entry into a framework agreement on electrical/electronic platform.
The so-called E/E Architecture was developed by Xpeng. It’s described as the core of its vertically integrated full-stack software and hardware technologies. “It allows software including ADAS [advanced driver-assistance system] and Connectivity OS to decouple from the underlying hardware and vehicle platforms, achieving fast iteration of software across platforms,” Xpeng explains.
As part of their electric vehicle cooperation in China, the companies will now jointly develop and integrate Xpeng’s latest generation of E/E Architecture to VW’s China Main Platform (CMP) in China. The technology will be featured in Volkswagen brand EVs manufacturing in the country from 2026, Kallanish notes.
Some of the attributes of the platform include gigabit ethernet high-speed data transmission and integrated electronic control units into the domain controllers. All in all, the companies say the E/E Architecture unlocks a “competitive cost structure” and high-efficiency over-the-air (OTA) updates for customers’ vehicles and units at the end of manufacturing lines.
“High cost-effectiveness and a fast pace of development are crucial for our competitiveness in China’s dynamic market environment,” comments Ralf Brandstätter, member of the board of management of Volkswagen AG for China.
The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the framework agreement. The first jointly developed smart electric model will be a SUV. Details on the second planned model are yet to be revealed.
Source:Kallanish
