Volkswagen Group is reportedly establishing a new organisational unit called OneTeam to accelerate the development of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving technology across its European operations.
The unit is expected to begin operating in November and bring together ADAS specialists from software subsidiary Cariad and the Group’s automotive brands. Manuel Birke, currently head of driver-assistance technology at Cariad, is reportedly set to lead the initiative and report to Audi development board member Rouven Mohr.
The plans were reported by German news agency dpa and Automobilwoche, citing an internal message on Volkswagen’s intranet.
Audi to Lead Group-Wide ADAS Development
The proposed structure would give Audi a central role in coordinating Volkswagen’s development of driver-assistance systems. The aim is to consolidate expertise, establish clearer responsibilities and create a technology platform that can be used across multiple brands.
Volkswagen Group development chief Werner Tietz outlined the rationale in an internal message quoted by Automobilwoche.
“We are creating clear accountability through the leadership of the lead brand Audi and are jointly leveraging our technological expertise for everyone,” Tietz said.
Under the new arrangement, specialists from different parts of the Group would work more closely rather than developing separate solutions for individual brands. Volkswagen expects the approach to help accelerate development and improve the reuse of technology across its vehicle portfolio.
The restructuring also comes amid longstanding concerns about coordination between Audi and Cariad. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner has been critical of the software subsidiary, while software development difficulties have contributed to delays affecting important models, including the Audi Q6 e-tron.
OneTeam could provide a clearer framework for assigning responsibility for development progress and delays. However, it remains unclear how authority will be divided between Audi, Cariad and the wider Group, or how many employees will join the new unit. The available reports do not indicate plans to establish a separate legal entity.
Cariad Faces Changes to Its Technology Strategy
The reorganisation comes as Cariad reassesses its role in Volkswagen’s software development strategy. The subsidiary was established to develop software shared across the Group and reduce dependence on external technology providers. Volkswagen has since expanded its use of outside partners.
In July, Cariad and Bosch ended their collaboration on automated driving functions ahead of the original plan. Volkswagen is also cutting around 1,000 jobs in Germany at Cariad.
The two companies had been developing a technology stack for driver-assistance systems up to SAE Level 2+, which allows sustained assistance with driving tasks while the driver remains responsible for supervision. The technology is intended for use in the planned electric compact car ID. Every1.
For higher levels of automation, including SAE Level 4, Volkswagen requires additional technological capabilities. According to a report by Der Spiegel, the Group has decided to work with British autonomous-driving startup Wayve, although a final contract had not been confirmed in the reporting.
Nvidia Remains Part of Volkswagen’s Autonomous Driving Strategy
Volkswagen’s approach also includes cooperation with Nvidia. At the Nvidia GTC conference in Berlin on October 21 and 22, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles presented the autonomous ID. Buzz AD, which is based on Nvidia’s Hyperion platform.
Hyperion combines computing hardware with a standardised sensor architecture designed to simplify the integration of different automated-driving software systems.
The potential roles of Nvidia and Wayve are distinct. Based on previous media reports, Wayve is expected to contribute driving software, while Nvidia offers computing hardware, software and development tools, including capabilities for simulation. Nvidia is also an investor in Wayve and supplies computing hardware for the startup’s autonomous-driving projects.
However, Volkswagen has not confirmed a specific production system combining Wayve’s software with Nvidia hardware for its passenger cars.
Shared Data Platform to Support Development
Volkswagen, Porsche and Cariad are also working with Nvidia, Microsoft Azure and data-platform provider Voxel51 on a system for training and validating automated-driving technology using real-world driving data.
Nvidia is contributing tools to process training data and virtually reconstruct real-world driving situations. These capabilities can help engineers evaluate software against a wider range of scenarios without relying exclusively on repeated physical test drives.
The approach is intended to shorten development cycles and improve the testing of automated-driving systems.
Volkswagen Seeks Greater Coordination Across Brands
The proposed OneTeam structure reflects Volkswagen’s effort to coordinate ADAS and automated-driving development across its brands while continuing to work with external technology providers.
By placing a central unit under Audi’s development leadership, the Group would seek to combine internal expertise, clarify accountability and improve the reuse of software and hardware platforms.
The practical impact will depend on how responsibilities are divided among OneTeam, Cariad and individual brands, as well as how Volkswagen integrates external partners such as Wayve and Nvidia into its development programmes. Details of the unit’s staffing, operating structure and final scope have not yet been disclosed.