Daimler AG and BMW Group have signed a long-term cooperation on automated driving.
Your two favourite German automakers are joining forces to develop a common, scalable architecture for autonomous cars.
BMW and Daimler – which manufactures Mercedes-Benzes – have signed an agreement which will focus on joint development of next-gen tech for driver assistance systems, automated driving on highways and automated parking (all to SAE Level 4).
Further talks are planned to extend the cooperation to higher levels of automation in urban areas and city centres, both companies jointly said.
What does the partnership aim to achieve?
This partnership, BMW and Daimler say, underscores the “long-term and lasting” nature of the undertaking, which will extend to encompass a scalable platform for automated driving.
Both companies have extended an open invitation to other OEMs and technology partners.
The results from the partnership will be available to other OEMs under license.
A key aim of the partnership is the “swift market launch” of the autonomous technology, BMW and Daimler said.
It is expected to feature in passenger car systems for private customers from 2024.
Will my future autonomous BMW and Mercedes-Benz look the same?
Even though they’ve joined forces, both companies will each implement the autonomous technologies in their respective series products independently.
More than 1,200 specialists will work together in mixed teams.
They will be based at locations including the BMW Group Autonomous Driving Campus in Unterschleissheim near Munich, the Mercedes-Benz Technology Centre (MTC) in Sindelfingen and the Daimler Testing and Technology Centre in Immendingen.
The teams will focus on developing a scalable architecture for driver assistance systems, including sensors, as well as a joint data centre for data storage, administration and processing, and the development of functions and software.
Together with Aptiv, Audi, Baidu, Continental, Fiat Chrysler, HERE, Infineon, Intel and Volkswagen, both the BMW Group and Daimler have published a white paper called “Safety First for Automated Driving”.
As well as covering all relevant safety methods for Level 3/4 SAE automated driving, the paper introduces a traceability system, which extends from the primary goal – being safer than the average driver – right down to the individual safety objectives of the various components.
The paper was published on 2 July 2019.
