Volkswagen Group's Audi brand could be set to join an existing alliance between BMW and Daimler created to develop advanced driverless technologies according to a German newspaper report.
German publication Wirtschaftswoche reported that the addition of Audi to the alliance is planned to be announced at the Frankfurt Show next month.
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Last month, Daimler and BMW signed a contract to launch cooperation on automated driving. The long-term agreement covers joint development of driver assistance systems, automated highway driving and automated parking to SAE Level 4.
After further talks, the companies said the cooperation will expand to higher automation in urban areas and city centres. The two automakers will develop a scalable platform for automated driving but the cooperation is not exclusive and will be ppen to other OEMs and technology suppliers under licence.
The pair have joined forces to launch new technology faster and hope to offer it in passenger cars from 2024. The systems will be added independently to Mercedes and BMW model lines.
The companies said that around 1,200 people will work on the JV, often in mixed teams. Locations are the Mercedes-Benz Technology Centre (MTC) in Sindelfingen, Daimler Testing and Technology Centre in Immendingen and BMW's Autonomous Driving Campus in Unterschleissheim, near Munich.
