Volkswagen Truck & Bus and the Future of Transportation

Authors

Anders Nielsen, Chief Technical Officer, Volkswagen Truck & Bus, Södertälje

Year

2018

Print Info

Fortschritt-Berichte VDI, Series 12, No 807

Summary

We live in a dramatically changing world where inefficiencies no longer are accepted. We do not talk about evolution anymore when developing automated, connected and clean (electrified and alternative drives) vehicles. In the commercial vehicles industry, we are in the middle of a revolution. Our trucks can continuously collect and transmit data which is the foundation for developing new technologies designed to optimize the entire eco-system. Connectivity is the enabler for automated vehicles to make even smarter systems. This could save up to a third of the operating cost for long haulage business and will be a big step in optimizing the system for our customers. The internal combustion engine will continue to play an important role for many years to come even though electric drives will be catching up in time. Combining these three technologies - automated, connected, and clean - will lead to a radical transformation. One thing is clear, the world of transport will change massively.