Volkswagen, together with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and integration partner Siemens, is opening up the Industrial Cloud to other manufacturing and technology companies. New partner companies will be able to connect with Volkswagen plants and to contribute their own software applications for optimizing production processes to the Industrial Cloud. This way, a rapidly growing range of industrial software applications for Volkswagen’s plants will be created. Each location will be able to obtain applications for its machinery, tools and equipment direct from the Industrial Cloud to optimize production (app store approach). The Volkswagen Group expects significant efficiency and productivity gains at its plants. The partner companies will be able to scale and further develop their applications in one of the world’s largest automobile production networks. This will also enable them to optimize their own processes and products. As a first step, eleven pioneering international companies, ABB, ASCon Systems, BearingPoint, Celonis, Dürr, GROB-WERKE, MHP, NavVis, SYNAOS, Teradata and WAGO, will be joining the Industrial Cloud.

With the Industrial Cloud we are creating a platform allowing partners to contribute their solutions. This will help the Volkswagen Group achieve global efficiencies at its plants. At the same time. we are creating the pathway for partners to scale their applications and optimize their own operations. This way, everyone will benefit”, says Nihar Patel, Executive Vice President New Business Development at Volkswagen AG.

In future, the Industrial Cloud is to include all Volkswagen’s factories throughout the world and its global supply chain and will facilitate data interchange between systems and plants. The system is based on AWS technologies in the fields of Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, data analytics, and computing services, which have been extended specifically to meet the requirements of Volkswagen and the automotive industry.

“Today’s news continues our initial mission of the Industrial Cloud project to help Volkswagen together with Siemens and their partners to focus their resources on optimizing production, creating new business opportunities for smart products, and improving operational efficiency across the entire value chain”, says AWS Dirk Didascalou, Vice President of AWS IoT, Amazon Web Services, Inc. “We look forward to watching the marketplace collaboration flourish as participants take advantage of the AWS native open architecture of the Industrial Cloud.”

Growing range of software applications on the Industrial Cloud

The Volkswagen Group will expand the range of software applications thanks to the support of partner companies. As a first step, eleven pioneering partners are already making their software applications available via the Industrial Cloud.

These include, for example, an algorithm with artificial intelligence to calculate requirements for driverless transport systems for plant logistics and to distribute these systems in the ideal way. Also available are software for optimizing plant efficiency (Overall Equipment Effectiveness, OEE), and an application for generating a digital twin on the cloud to simulate the capacity deployment and maintenance intervals of machines without intervening in the physical production process. Discussions with additional companies are already underway.

Opening of Industrial Cloud brings benefits to all concerned

Volkswagen believes that the evolution of its Industrial Cloud into a partner network will bring benefits to all the companies participating. Volkswagen plants will be able to use a growing range of software applications. This will boost the development of the Industrial Cloud as a whole. In addition, partner companies could also provide specialized applications which are relevant for certain Volkswagen plants. This way, the Volkswagen Group will be able to take account of the diverse structure of its plants at the same time as avoiding the need for inefficient in-house development of specialized applications. The partner companies will gain specialist knowledge for the development of their software and ultimately also for optimizing their own business processes and products. This will be especially beneficial if the companies concerned wish to establish their software applications as market solutions.

From partner network to marketplace for exchanging applications

Volkswagen and AWS see the development of the Industrial Cloud into an open partner network as a key step and intend to further intensify the App Store approach. In the long term, the partners aim to create a marketplace for industrial applications. All participants would then be able to exchange their applications with each other, to acquire applications and to use them irrespective of any links to Volkswagen. Development of the technological basis for this marketplace is already in progress.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

Following the devastating bush fires at the beginning of the year, Volkswagen is now do-nating one million Australian dollars (about 617,000 euros) to "Bush Heritage Australia" for bush fire and reforestation projects in Australia. The "One Million Trees Project" in the Eurardy Nature Reserve in Western Australia will receive 250,000 dollars and a project to restore 400 hectares in the Scottsdale Reserve in New South Wales will receive 750,000 dollars.

"Although the world has been ravaged by the COVID 19 pandemic since the fires earlier this year, Volkswagen remains committed to supporting bush fire relief and restoration," said Michael Bartsch, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Australia.

The donation is part of a 2.5 million Australian dollar donation framework that Volkswagen had pledged in response to the devastating bush fires in early 2020. 500,000 dollars was immediately sent to the volunteer fire brigades of Queensland, News South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Potential recipients for the remaining one million Australian dollars are currently being examined.

Bush Heritage Australia is an independent, not-for-profit national organisation that acquires and manages land and works with indigenous people to protect the local flora and fauna. Bush Heritage owns 37 nature reserves covering an area of 1.24 million hectares. Through its 25 Aboriginal partnerships, the organisation supports the management of an additional 10.1 million hectares. 

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

How does the Golf GTE’s battery work?

Inside the hard outer casing of the Golf GTE’s high-voltage lithium-ion battery you’ll find 96 345V interconnected cells, organised into modules. Designed especially for electric and hybrid vehicles, these high capacity cells store energy and make it available to the electric motor while you drive. The Golf GTE is also equipped with a 12V support battery. 

What does the GTE button do? 

Here’s the fun part. The GTE button activates the full power of the TSI engine in dynamic combination with the electric motor, allowing the Golf GTE to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 138 mph – ideal for overtaking. The driving profile switches to ‘sport’ mode, for more spontaneous acceleration, firmer steering and a internal sound actuator. 

Does the Golf GTE actually create energy? 

Every time you decelerate while driving the Golf GTE – in any driving mode – that energy is fed back into the battery. This ‘energy recuperation’ means that on long journeys, the Golf GTE actually recharges the battery.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

The Volkswagen Tiguan is Europe’s most successful Sports Utility Vehicle and one of the top-selling SUVs in the world. More than six million units have been produced to date. In 2019, the Tiguan was again the most popular model of the brand and entire Volkswagen Group, with around 911,000 units produced. Volkswagen is now showcasing a comprehensive update of the best-selling vehicle as part of its world premiere. Ralf Brandstätter who has today been appointed the new CEO of the Volkswagen brand: “We launched our global SUV strategy with the second-generation Tiguan in 2016. It served as the basis for many successful models worldwide. Volkswagen is now taking the next step by electrifying, digitalising and networking the new Tiguan. This will equip the compact SUV to handle the challenges of the modern era.”

All key technology on board the bestseller is set to take a significant step forward. Volkswagen is electrifying the Tiguan with a new, state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid drive. The SUV will now also be available as a separate Tiguan R model for the very first time. Volkswagen R’s performance experts have developed a new all-wheel drive with selective wheel torque control for the extremely dynamic, top-of-the-range model. The so called “R-Performance Torque Vectoring” enables totally new SUV driving dynamics by distributing the drive power variably between the front and rear axles as well as the left and right rear wheels.

Volkswagen’s use of twin dosing now ensures that the turbo diesel engines (TDI) in the Tiguan are among the cleanest combustion engines in the world. With the new Travel Assist system in the Tiguan, the compact SUV is now capable of assisted driving at speeds up to 210 km/h. The Tiguan also applies the most recent generation of infotainment systems (MIB3) to bring a completely new range of online-based services and functions on board. Also new: the optional 480-watt sound system by audio specialist Harman Kardon.

A new steering wheel generation featuring touch controls is also among the highlights of the new Tiguan. Volkswagen has also digitalised the climate control functions by means of touch sliders and touch buttons. And last, but by no means least, the Tiguan’s new IQ.LIGHT – LED matrix headlights guide drivers through the night with enhanced convenience.

One of the characteristic, new exterior features of the new Tiguan includes the redesigned front end. Klaus Zyciora, Head of Design for the Volkswagen Group and Chief Designer for the Volkswagen brand: “At the front, Volkswagen’s new SUV radiator grille forges a visual link between the Tiguan and models such as the larger Touareg and the Atlas Cross Sport sold in North America. It really lends the new Tiguan a significantly more confident appearance.” The bonnet is more concise in its appearance and the new radiator grille with LED headlights is wider, with the new Volkswagen badge positioned centrally at the front. The eye-catching bumpers have also undergone a makeover. At the rear, the Tiguan lettering is now in a prominent central position below the VW badge.

Like its predecessors, the new Tiguan is versatile. It is a genuine SUV capable of towing loads – a Volkswagen that can handle every motoring situation with aplomb. This is truer than ever, thanks to the new range of drive, assist and infotainment systems on board the Tiguan.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com