Volkswagen Chooses Microsoft Azure for Its Self-Driving software
b'Volkswagen Chooses Microsoft Azure for Its Self-Driving Self-driving cars need a reliable connection to the cloud, and automaker Volkswagen has decided Microsoft\'s Azure cloud service is the best choice on which to build its automated driving platform.\\n\\nAs Reuters reports, Volkswagen is working on both driver assistance features and fully-automated driving functionality for its entire range of vehicles and brands. Last year, the automaker consolidated software development efforts across its different brands by creating the Car.Software Organization, but development is still being carried out by the different vehicle companies under Volkswagen\'s umbrella.\\n\\nThat changes with this new deal which sees all Volkswagen\'s development efforts migrate to Microsoft Azure. And this is a big deal for Microsoft when you consider the Volkswagen Group owns Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Seat, Skoda, and of course produces its own range of Volkswagen vehicles.\\n\\n"As we transform Volkswagen Group into a digital mobility provider, we are looking to continuously increase the efficiency of our software development. We are building the Automated Driving Platform with Microsoft to simplify our developers\' work through one scalable and data-based engineering environment. By combining our comprehensive expertise in the development of connected driving solutions with Microsoft\\u2019s cloud and software engineering know-how, we will accelerate the delivery of safe and comfortable mobility services," said Dirk Hilgenberg, CEO of the Car.Software Organization.\\n\\nVolkswagen already had a relationship with Microsoft to connect its cars using Azure, but this new deal extends that further. An increasing number of vehicles now receive regular over-the-air updates. So if you purchase a new vehicle from one of the many Volkswagen brands in future, those updates will be served using Microsoft\'s cloud servers around the world.\\n\\n\\u201cThis is the next evolution of our foundational work with the Volkswagen Group to enhance their transformation as a software-driven mobility provider,\\u201d said Scott Guthrie, executive vice president, Cloud + AI at Microsoft. \\u201cThe power of Microsoft Azure and its compute, data and AI capabilities will enable Volkswagen to deliver secure and reliable automated driving solutions to their customers faster.\\u201d'