Munich/Stuttgart. The BMW Group and Daimler AG are
launching their cooperation on automated driving: representatives from
the two companies today signed an agreement for a long-term strategic
cooperation, which will focus on joint development of next-generation
technologies for driver assistance systems, automated driving on
highways and automated parking (all to SAE Level 4). In addition,
further talks are planned to extend the cooperation to higher levels
of automation in urban areas and city centres. This underscores the
long-term and lasting nature of the undertaking, which will extend to
encompass a scalable platform for automated driving. The non-exclusive
cooperation is also open to other OEMs and technology partners, with
results being made available to other OEMs under license.
A key aim of the cooperation is the swift market launch of the
technology, which is expected to feature in passenger car systems for
private customers from 2024. The two companies will each implement the
technologies in their respective series products independently. The
cooperation will see more than 1,200 specialists working together,
often 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. Efforts 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.
Safety First for Automated Driving
Along with Aptiv, Audi, Baidu, Continental, Fiat Chrysler, HERE,
Infineon, Intel and Volkswagen, the BMW Group and Daimler have
published a white paper entitled 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.
Automated driving at the BMW Group:
The BMW Group has been working on highly automated driving since 2006
and has established a non-exclusive platform with technology
specialists, suppliers and OEMs to take it to series maturity. Since
2017, work in this area has been consolidated at the Autonomous
Driving Campus in Unterschleissheim, just north of Munich, and the
industrialisation of the technology is being advanced with the support
of partners. The technology’s unique scalability from Level 2 – 4 both
enables a high level of flexibility and ensures it will be viable in
the future. Cutting edge agile software development is used at the
Campus to speed up development of the platform and set new industry
standards. Around the world, more than 70 test vehicles are trialling
the latest technology. They collect data in order to improve machine
learning with artificial intelligence through simulations and test new
Level 2 – 5 functions out on the road. The generation of technologies
that is currently under development will go into series production as
Level 3 automation in 2021 in the BMW iNEXT where it will also be
Level 4 enabled for pilot projects.
Automated driving at Daimler AG:
Daimler AG has been working on series development projects not only
for specific Level 3 vehicles but also for Levels 4 and 5. Long a
leader in active safety systems, it programmed its systems largely
in-house right from the very beginning. 2019 will see the launch in
San José, Silicon Valley, of its first pilot programme, with Bosch, on
self-driving vehicles (Levels 4/5) in urban environments. This will be
the next milestone within the existing cooperation between both
partners and the cooperation will continue as planned. Early next
decade, Daimler will bring to the market not only highly automated
(Level 3) vehicles but also fully automated (Level 4/5) vehicles. It
is the only OEM in the world to be so well-positioned to apply
autonomous driving in every relevant context, from passenger cars and
vans to buses and trucks, and is therefore relying on scalable
solutions to deliver automated driving.
Contacts:
BMW Group
Max-Morten Borgmann
Corporate Communications
Telephone: +49 89 382-24118
Max-Morten.Borgmann@bmw.de
BMW Group
Mathias Schmidt
Head of Corporate and Culture Communications
Telephone: +49 89 382-24544
Mathias.M.Schmidt@bmw.de
Daimler AG
Koert Groeneveld
Head of International Product Technology Communications
Telephone: +49 711 17-92311
koert.groeneveld@daimler.com
Daimler AG
Bernhard Weidemann
Communications Autonomous Driving Intelligent Drive
Telephone: +49 711 17-95229
bernhard.weidemann@daimler.com
This document contains forward-looking statements that reflect our
current views about future events. The words “anticipate,” “assume,”
“believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may”, “plan,” “project,”
“should” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking
statements. These statements are subject to many risks and
uncertainties, including an adverse development of global economic
conditions, in particular a decline of demand in our most important
markets; aworsening of the sovereign-debt crisis in the euro zone; a
deterioration of our funding possibilities on the credit and financial
markets; events of force majeure including natural disasters, acts of
terrorism, political unrest, industrial accidents and their effects on
our sales, purchasing, production or financial services activities;
changes in currency exchange rates; a shift in consumer preference
towards smaller, lower margin vehicles; or a possible lack of
acceptance of our products or services which limits our ability to
achieve prices as well as to adequately utilize our production
capacities; price increases in fuel or raw materials; disruption of
production due to shortages of materials, labor strikes, or supplier
insolvencies; a decline in resale prices of used vehicles; the
effective implementation of cost-reduction and efficiency-optimization
measures; the business outlook of companies in which we hold a
significant equity interest; the successful implementation of
strategic cooperations and joint ventures; changes in laws,
regulations and government policies, particularly those relating to
vehicle emissions, fuel economy and safety; the resolution of pending
governmental investigations and the conclusion of pending or
threatened future legal proceedings; and other risks and
uncertainties, some of which we describe under the heading “Risk
Report” in Daimler’s most recent Annual Report. If any of these risks
and uncertainties materialize, or if the assumptions underlying any of
our forward-looking statements prove incorrect, then our actual
results may be materially different from those we express or imply by
such statements. We do not intend or assume any obligation to update
these forward looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks
only as of the date on which it is made.
The BMW Group at a Glance
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW
Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and
motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services.
The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly
facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in
more than 140 countries.
In 2018, the BMW Group sold over 2,490,000 passenger vehicles and
more than 165,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the
financial year 2018 was € 9.815 billion on revenues amounting to €
97.480 billion. As of 31 December 2018, the BMW Group had a workforce
of 134,682 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established
ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain,
comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.
Daimler at a Glance
Daimler AG is one of the world’s most successful automotive
companies. With its divisions Mercedes-Benz Cars, Daimler Trucks,
Mercedes-Benz Vans, Daimler Buses and Daimler Financial Services, the
Daimler Group is one of the biggest producers of premium cars and the
world’s largest producer of trucks above 6 tons. Daimler Financial
Services provides financing, leasing, fleet management, investment
products and brokerage of credit cards and insurance, as well as
innovative mobility services. The company’s founders, Gottlieb Daimler
and Carl Benz, made history with the invention of the automobile in
the year 1886. As a pioneer of automotive engineering, it is a
motivation and commitment of Daimler to shape safely and sustainably
the future of mobility. The Group’s focus is on innovative and green
technologies as well as on safe and superior automobiles that appeal
and fascinate. Daimler consequently invests in the development of
efficient drive trains with the long-term goal of locally
emission-free driving: from hightech combustion engines about hybrid
vehicles to electric drive trains powered by battery or fuel cell.
Furthermore, the company follows a consistent path towards intelligent
connectivity of its vehicles, autonomous driving and new mobility
concepts. This is just one example of how Daimler willingly accepts
the challenge of meeting its responsibility towards society and the
environment. Daimler sells its vehicles and services in nearly all the
countries of the world and has production facilities in Europe, North
and South America, Asia, and Africa. Its current brand portfolio
includes, in addition to the world’s most valuable premium automotive
brand, Mercedes-Benz (Source: Interbrand-Study, 10/4/2018), as well as
Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach and Mercedes me, the brands smart, EQ,
Freightliner, Western Star, BharatBenz, FUSO, Setra and Thomas Built
Buses, and Daimler Financial Services’ brands: Mercedes-Benz Bank,
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, Daimler Truck Financial, moovel,
car2go and mytaxi. The company is listed on the stock exchanges of
Frankfurt and Stuttgart (stock exchange symbol DAI). In 2018, the
Group sold 3.4 million vehicles and employed a workforce of around
298,700 people. Group revenue amounted to €167.4 billion. Group EBIT
amounted to €11.1 billion.