Short dive:
- According to an October release, Volvo Group and Daimler Truck are collaborating to develop a software-based platform for commercial vehicles press release
- The 50/50 joint venture, based in Gothenburg, Sweden, will create a dedicated truck operating system and tools that OEMs can use as the basis for building their own digital vehicle features.
- Volvo and Daimler will remain competitors in other business areas and will continue to offer independent products and services, including various digital offerings for customers.
Diving information:
First announced in MayThe joint venture between Volvo and Daimler aims to set an industry standard by offering its versatile and brand-independent products to heavy vehicle manufacturers. The transaction for the new company is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025.
“The signing demonstrates our shared commitment to driving the digital transformation of our industry,” Karin Rådström, CEO of Daimler Truck, said in the release. “The software and hardware from this joint venture will be critical to achieving unprecedented levels of safety, comfort and efficiency for our customers.”
The company’s activities will include the specification and procurement of high-performance centralized control units dedicated to commercial vehicles and capable of handling large amounts of data, the release said. It also aims to improve efficiency and customer experience by decoupling software and hardware development cycles and allowing customers to purchase “over-the-air” updates for digital applications.
“We are joining forces to redefine software architecture and pave the way for a new era of self-optimizing trucks,” Volvo Group President and CEO Martin Lundstedt said in the release. “It is a revolutionary response to the challenges of our modern world and we are proud to set the industry standard.”
Volvo and Daimler are not the only companies to recognize the benefits of splitting software and hardware in SDV development. Last month, Panasonic Automotive Systems has announced a partnership with Armwhich includes the standardization of interfaces for real-time operating systems. Companies aim to separate the software of advanced driver assistance systems from hardware dependencies.