Volkswagen Group has announced a framework agreement with China’s XPeng to collaborate on Electrical/Electronic Architecture (E/E Architecture) for its electric vehicles (EV).
In late February, Volkswagen and XPENG signed a master agreement to collaborate on software and vehicle platforms. That includes a sourcing platform and the development of battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
XPENG’s E/E Architecture enables vertically integrated full-stack software and hardware technologies. It allows software including ADAS and Connectivity OS to decouple from the hardware and vehicle platforms. The architecture aims to achieve accelerated software across platforms for the manufacturer.
The architecture supports Gigabit Ethernet high-speed data transmission between the central domain and ADAS domain controllers. It has large numbers of electronic control units in the domain controllers. The advantage of such architecture is that it is highly integrated and cost-competitive.
Volkswagen collaborating for XPENG E/E Architecture (Image Credit: XPENG)
The architecture supports whole-vehicle OTA for customers and manufacturing lines vehicles.
Ralf Brandstatter, Member of the Board of Volkswagen AG for China said that the company is empowering partnership with XPENG by integrating China’s industrial ecosystem. He also mentioned that the collaboration will increase efficiency, optimize cost structures, and accelerate development.
“High cost-effectiveness and a fast pace of development are crucial for our competitiveness in China’s dynamic market environment,” said Brandstatter.
This collaboration will explore joint development and integration of the latest XPENG E/E architecture to Volkswagen EVs sold in China. The first set of vehicles with this architecture will release in 2026.
(source)