BMW and Mercedes-Benz put brakes on self-drive cooperation

Cooperation on autonomous driving has been suspended by BMW Group and Mercedes-Benz AG.

Both companies say they will continue their own development path with collaboration to continue in other fields and that the cooperation on self-drive launched in July 2019 may continue later.

The two say that in view of the expense involved in creating a shared technology platform, as well as current business and economic conditions, the timing is not right for successful implementation of the cooperation.

“We have systematically further developed our technology and scalable platform with partners like Intel, Mobileye, FCA and Ansys,” BMW management board member Klaus Fröhlich says.

“Our current technology generation offers very strong, sustainable potential: With extremely powerful sensors and computing power, our robust modular system puts us in an excellent position to offer our customers what they need for many years.”

Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG management board member Markus Schäfer adds: “Our expertise complements that of the BMW Group very well, as our successful collaborations have proved. Next to decarbonisation, digitalisation is a central strategic pillar for Mercedes-Benz. To prepare for the future challenges of a rapidly changing environment, we are currently also sounding out other possibilities with partners outside the automotive sector.”

In 2015, the two companies joined with Audi AG to acquire the location and technology platform HERE. In early 2019, the BMW Group and Daimler AG also pooled their mobility services in a joint venture under the NOW family.

It’s reported that BMW plans to cut 6000 jobs – nearly all of those in Germany – through early retirement, staff turnover and redundancies as result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact.