Cariad and TomTom join forces to develop a new navigation system for the electric Audi

The Volkswagen Group, through its software subsidiary Cariad and in collaboration with the renowned mapping company TomTom, has created a navigation solution designed specifically for electric vehicles. This innovative system is designed not only to guide the driver, but also to ensure that the vehicle reaches its destination with sufficient range.

The technology developed by Cariad and TomTom will monitor the vehicle’s remaining range in real time during every journey and adjust the route as necessary, taking into account factors such as traffic, the availability of charging stations and even the user’s driving style, in order to suggest appropriate charging stops.

This navigation system will initially be introduced in the electric vehicles of Audi, although it will also gradually reach other brands of the Volkswagen Group later on. The hard work carried out by Cariad’s engineers, with the invaluable help and expertise of TomTom, has made it possible to create a tool tailored to the needs of today’s electric vehicles, integrating completely seamlessly to thus offer the user experience that customers demand.

As TomTom points out, the company’s technologies are already present in millions of vehicles of the Volkswagen Group, and they are confident that this cooperation will continue over time so that it keeps bearing fruit. For its part, Cariad has also wanted to highlight the importance of its collaboration with TomTom. Combining Cariad’s software development and integration expertise with TomTom’s experience in geolocation technology will allow the vehicles of the Volkswagen Group to have a next-generation navigation system, they say. This solution is also perfectly integrated with the digital cockpit, providing a reliable, fast and intuitive driving experience.

After some setbacks with the software in its vehicles, the Volkswagen Group wants to leave the past behind

Cariad has faced major challenges in software development in recent years, which has caused considerable delays in the launch of new models -such as the all-electric Porsche Macan or the Audi Q6 e-tron- and complaints from customers of the Volkswagen Group brands. This complicated situation has even led the Volkswagen Group to seek new alliances with Rivian or XPENG so as not to fall behind the competition, while Cariad tried to correct its mistakes.

The presentation of this new navigation solution with TomTom’s help may be, perhaps, a first step in the right direction for Cariad. Time and customer response will tell whether this is really the case or not.