Volkswagen Group of America and IoT technology company Aeris are forming Ventic, a joint venture that is the result of a long-term commitment between the two partners in the development and operations of connected vehicle platform technologies.
The JV’s ownership split is 51% to Volkswagen and 49% to Aeris. The company will focus on Volkswagen brand vehicles in North America, starting with the launch of the next generation Car-Net in most 2020MY vehicles.
Ventic promises a highly customizable approach to Volkswagen’s specific requirements. It will give VW the ability to manage the connected car program on a single platform, while preserving the ability to deploy solutions that differ based on region or vehicle model.
Key benefits of the Ventic platform can be summarized into three major categories, according to the two partners. First is service flexibility and speed. The modern microservices-based platform architecture is said to offer fast and flexible introduction of new services that parallel the development of a new application on a compatible smartphone. The architecture also provides the ability to change rules, such as access, in a dynamic way, “supporting Volkswagen’s position in a shared mobility world”.
Operational efficiency is the second benefit. The platform architecture supports mobility across cloud platforms, as required by business needs and geographical restrictions with built-in system monitoring and operational KPIs. Finally, for customer experience, the Ventic device platform improves response times with a service delivery architecture that “optimizes an end-to-end system from wireless connection to telematics applications, while simultaneously addressing key concerns around hardware power management”.
“Volkswagen is committed to connected vehicle technology, as we see a future where all cars are 100% connected at all times,” said Abdallah Shanti, global CIO, Volkswagen brand, and Ventic board member. “Our connectivity platform expands beyond remote services and vehicle safety and security. This platform has inherent flexibility that enables new business models through third-party integration and is foundational for V2X communications. Furthermore, this platform will serve our customers with delightful and useful functions, as well as being a gateway to other digital ecosystems.”
“The connected vehicle is at the center of the game-changing trends in the industry – autonomous, electric, shared,” added Raj Kanaya, another Ventic board member as well as general manager of automotive and chief marketing officer, Aeris. “Through Ventic, we’re excited to be on this journey with Volkswagen.”