Technology firm Continental has become a development partner and system integrator of the collaboration between BMW Group, Intel and Mobileye for automated driving.

The new cooperation model on fully automated driving by BMW Group, Intel and Mobileye is intended to offer scalable solutions for the automotive industry worldwide.

The three firms brought their resources and expertise together in July 2016 for production of fully automated BMW vehicles by 2021.

Continental will contribute its product expertise and its overall system competency along the complete process chain of  automated driving.

It will focus on function development and integration of automated systems, including driver monitoring and motion control, besides simulation and validation of these functions.

“The cooperation with the core partners involved represents the unique opportunity to drive ahead and get this technology of the future to our roads more quickly.”

Continental AG executive board member and chassis and safety division head Frank Jourdan said: “We have already had very good experience in working with the BMW Group through jointly successfully completed development and series projects. Contributing development and integration for the partnership is recognition of our extensive competence in the field of automated driving.

“The cooperation with the core partners involved represents the unique opportunity to drive ahead and get this technology of the future to our roads more quickly.”

The range and complexity of the technical systems needed for self-driving vehicles are huge.

Last year, the sales of advanced driver assistance systems reached more than €1.2bn. The number of new orders increased to over €3bn. By 2020, Continental expects sales to cross €2bn.

Image: Automated driving is expected to lead to a more efficient overall traffic flow. Photo: courtesy of Continental AG.