BMW guarantees the dependability of the first software-defined automobile
BMW has made a significant stride in the automotive industry with the release of its first software-defined vehicle, the new BMW iX3. The electric SUV, which sits on a new EV platform, was unveiled at the Munich motor show.
Developing the software stack in-house was crucial for BMW, according to BMW's Neue Klasse chief, Mike Reichelt. This approach allows BMW's engineers to deal with digital technology for every function in the car, a transformation that involves every engineer going into the digital world.
The new BMW iX3 features a new computing architecture with four 'supercomputer' chips, ensuring smooth operation of all the vehicle's key functions. Half of the engineers in BMW's Driving Experience department work in electrics or electronics, a significant increase compared to before.
Every function in the new BMW iX3 has a hardware and a software part. This shift from traditional car manufacturing to software-defined vehicles has been a challenge for rivals such as Volvo and the Volkswagen Group. However, BMW's focus on digital development within its engineering departments allows the company to stay ahead of the curve.
BMW's approach to digital development is different from its approach to car manufacturing over the past 20 years. The company believes it is a failure to take digital development outside the company or to another part of the company. This belief is reflected in the increasing number of engineers working in electrics or electronics at BMW, with the number growing a little bit every month.
Dr. Nicolas Peter, a key leader at BMW, has held various technical planning and development roles within the company, emphasizing innovation and electrification. While the specific names of engineers working on the BMW driver experience, especially those increasingly involved monthly in electronics and electrical systems, are not publicly detailed, Dr. Peter's involvement indicates a focus on such areas.
BMW's Neue Klasse chief, Mike Reichelt, is confident that the company will avoid bugs and issues with the software-defined vehicle. This confidence is well-placed, as BMW has developed the entire software stack for the new BMW iX3 in-house.
The development of the new BMW iX3 marks a significant step in the transformation from the combustion engine to electric mobility for BMW. With its focus on digital development and in-house software stack, BMW is poised to lead the way in the future of automotive technology.
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