VW’s CARIAD team up with ThunderSoft to enhance user experience

Beijing | April 13, 2023 – CARIAD, the automotive software & technology company of Volkswagen Group, and ThunderSoft, a well-known intelligent operating system products and technologies provider, will form a new partnership to accelerate the development of connectivity and infotainment systems in China. China is a dynamic ICV market with a consumer base that demands cutting-edge, innovative driving experiences. As part of its “in China, for China” strategy, CARIAD is partnering with leading technology companies to further enhance its R&D competence, drawing on a customer-oriented mindset to deliver localized innovation.

The partnership will accelerate CARIAD to provide localized applications for entertainment, user experience and interactions (UX/UI) to vehicles of Volkswagen Group brands and will leverage CARIAD's vehicle software and hardware integration capabilities, Volkswagen Group’s platform synergy, and ThunderSoft’s expertise in operating systems as well as smart cockpit. The partners will focus on developing and testing software products and solutions in the areas of connectivity and infotainment, including software development services for operating systems, human-machine interfaces, cockpits, and cloud development. Through the partnership, the two parties plan to establish a joint venture in China, in which CARIAD and ThunderSoft will hold a 49% and 51% stake respectively. The joint venture will deliver on the innovation priorities of the Volkswagen Group and CARIAD in China, while also providing benefits to ThunderSoft.

Ralf Brandstätter, Chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, said: “The needs and requirements of the Chinese customers are in the center of our strategic efforts. This partnership is a further important step to speed up our digital transformation and to strengthen our R&D strategy to develop more tailor-made innovations in China, for China.”

“A seamless, integrated and personalized user experience is becoming a key differentiator for software-defined vehicles. Consumers in China and around the world are demanding vehicles with innovative, smart cockpits that can meet their distinct needs. Through the strategic partnership with ThunderSoft, CARIAD is committed to providing scalable, innovative solutions for infotainment and connectivity in China at a faster speed,” said CARIAD CEO Dirk Hilgenberg.

“The intelligent revolution is driving automobile industry into a new era, where software is playing an increasingly important role. We’re happy to join hands with CARIAD, leveraging knowhow from both sides to empower the industry with more innovative software products and solutions, and to enrich the intelligent world together”, said Hongfei ZHAO, Chairman and CEO of ThunderSoft.