Ford and VW: Business Alliance in AV / EV :VW’s AID as Algo AI’s first base in Europe.
New York
July 18, 2019
Ford: Volkswagen (VW)
On July 12, announced a business alliance between ‘AV (automated driving) and EV’ (Ford Press Release July 12).
In June 2018, the two companies have already announced a business alliance in the joint development of a medium-sized pickup truck and a commercial van (see the article on June 27, 2018),
Recently, we will extend the investment area to artificial intelligence (AI) and reduce development costs.
There is no capital tie-up.
This partnership: VW
VW invested $ 1 billion in Ford’s subsidiary Argo AI (AV Development).
And will transfer VW’s AID (Autonomous Intelligent Driving: Munich) as Algo AI’s first development base in Europe.
In the next three years, the company will acquire $ 500 million worth of Algo AI’s shares (owned by Ford), and will work on development in an equal position with Ford.
This partnership: Ford
Of the $ 1 billion investment in Argo AI (announced in February 2017), the remaining $ 600 million is invested.
VW supplies EV platform MEB (Note 2) to Ford in the EV field.
VW plans to install the MEB on its EV 15 million vehicles over the next 10 years.
Honda: GM
October 2018, GM and unmanned ride share service joint development, $ 2 billion investment (see the October 4, 2018 article),
BMW: Daimler
In July, BMW and Daimler signed a long-term partnership with autonomous operation and level 4 commercialization.
Argo AI (Note 1)
Graduates of Carnegie Mellon University in the United States are established and are start-up companies headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
From 2017, the company developed AV technology for commercialization of Level 4 with Ford’s investment.
https://www.jetro.go.jp/biznews/2019/07/eee97b81b0590125.html