The Volkswagen Group is embarking on a significant transformation of its IT infrastructure, placing Vw Software at the heart of its modernization strategy. By 2026, the automotive giant plans to consolidate its vast network of legacy systems, replacing them with a streamlined, more robust, and scalable IT framework. This ambitious overhaul is projected to accelerate operational efficiency and substantially decrease IT expenditures, paving the way for faster innovation cycles and enhanced vehicle development.
Central to this evolution is Volkswagen’s commitment to bolstering its in-house software development capabilities. This strategic move involves expanding its global network of subsidiaries and forging innovative partnerships with select technology leaders. This focus on vw software is not just about upgrading systems; it’s about future-proofing the company for the rapidly evolving automotive landscape where software is increasingly integral to vehicle functionality and customer experience.
Hauke Stars, Volkswagen Group Board Member for IT, emphasizes the critical role of modern IT in product development: “For the development and production of modern products, we need modern IT systems. At the Volkswagen Group, we are therefore working on our system landscape of the future: powerful, cross-brand, and scalable. Our deepened collaboration with CGI is a further step to secure the increasing demand for software development performance in the Volkswagen Group.” This statement underscores the company’s proactive approach to ensuring its vw software infrastructure can meet the demands of next-generation vehicle technology.
To accelerate this transformation, Volkswagen Group is deepening its collaboration with CGI, a global IT and business consulting services firm. This partnership has led to the creation of MARV1N, a new entity established as a wholly-owned subsidiary of CGI Germany. MARV1N is specifically designed to focus on vw software development projects, acting as a dedicated extension of Volkswagen’s IT capabilities.
François Boulanger, CGI President and CEO, highlights the strategic importance of this alliance: “Through this strategic partnership, we will further deepen our strong relationship with Volkswagen as we collaborate to accelerate Volkswagen Group’s business outcomes in line with their digitalization vision and strategy. As part of this new strategic partnership, our architects, developers and consultants will deliver services and solutions grounded in both technology expertise and knowledge of manufacturing business processes. We look forward to bringing CGI’s proven best practices, global capabilities and technology innovation to this new joint initiative.” This collaboration signifies Volkswagen’s commitment to leveraging external expertise to enhance its vw software ecosystem.
Volkswagen anticipates numerous advantages from this collaborative model. The dedicated teams at MARV1N will channel their software proficiency exclusively to Volkswagen Group projects, thereby accelerating development timelines. This focused approach, combined with long-term project engagement, will foster a deep understanding of Volkswagen’s core processes and vw software products within the MARV1N teams. This close integration ensures that crucial knowledge and expertise remain within the Volkswagen ecosystem, enhancing its long-term vw software development capacity.
Initially, MARV1N’s efforts are concentrated on projects within Volkswagen’s Technical Development division, a pivotal area in the Group’s ongoing digitalization push. Their primary objective is to expedite data-driven function development for new vehicle initiatives. For example, a new, group-wide IT system is under development to unify data related to electrical/electronic architecture and vw software functions. This system will encompass the entire vehicle lifecycle, from pre-series development to after-sales service. This centralized data management strategy is expected to significantly shorten development cycles for vw software updates and innovative digital products, such as Functions on Demand, ultimately benefiting Volkswagen customers with more responsive and feature-rich vehicles. By focusing on streamlining vw software development, Volkswagen is positioning itself to deliver cutting-edge automotive technology and maintain a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving market.
