VW Group’s software unit CARIAD has acquired the automotive division of German software and sensor developer Intenta to accelerate the development of its assisted and automated driving functions up to Level 4 autonomy.
Intenta’s 100 plus sensor data fusion experts will transfer with the sale. “Our goal is to develop key software components ourselves and increase the depth of value added in key development areas,” says Lynn Longo, Chief Technical Officer at CARIAD. “That’s why we are expanding our expertise along the entire tech stack for automated driving. With the acquisition of Intenta’s automotive unit as a proven specialist in this field, we are expanding our competencies in sensor data fusion.”
Longo explains the significance. “The fusion of the various data coming into the car – whether from the lidar and radar sensors, cameras, navigation or in-cabin monitoring with occupant observation – is key for automated driving functions,” she explains.
Merging and overlaying all this data creates an accurate and consistent image of the environment. This enables the vehicle to recognise objects in its environment, interpret their movements, and therefore move safely and automatically in its surroundings. “Sensor data fusion is therefore an important prerequisite for the high safety requirements of assisted and automated driving.”
The acquisition builds on CARIAD’s purchase last year of camera software division of Hella Aglaia. And the latest acquisition, it says, massively increases its vertical value creation in support of VW’s ambition to retain control in-house and help shape the customer experience in software-controlled cars in the future from automated driving to infotainment systems.
Completion of the acquisition is expected towards the end of 2022 and is still subject to approval by the antitrust authorities.
