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XPeng and Volkswagen will collaborate on electrical/electronic architectures for electric vehicles

May 13, 2024

XPeng and Volkswagen have announced they’ll collaborate on Electrical/Electronic architecture for electric vehicles.

The companies will integrate XPeng’s latest generation of E/E Architecture with central computing and domain controller-based architecture into Volkswagen’s China Main Platform (CMP) in China, expected to be incorporated into VW’s cars made in China in 2026.

XPeng says its in-house developed E/E Architecture is a key component of its vertically integrated full-stack software and hardware technologies. It enables software, including ADAS and Connectivity OS, to decouple from the underlying hardware and vehicle platforms, facilitating fast software iteration across platforms. The latest generation of XPeng’s E/E Architecture adopts a central computing and domain controller-based architecture, providing a high-performance in-car computing environment and a competitive cost structure.

The E/E Architecture supports Gigabit Ethernet high-speed data transmission between the central domain and ADAS domain controllers. A significant number of electronic control units have been integrated into the domain controllers, resulting in a highly integrated architecture and competitive cost structure. The E/E Architecture also supports highly efficient whole-vehicle OTA for both customers’ vehicles and vehicles at the end of manufacturing lines.

Mr. Xiaopeng He, Chairman and CEO of XPENG, said, “The shared passion for technology and innovation brought XPENG and Volkswagen together. Both parties continue to contribute each other’s best to our strategic partnership. The technical collaboration based on our industry-leading E/E Architecture takes our partnership to the next level and on a much larger scale. The collaboration will allow our Smart EV products to be both technologically competitive and cost competitive.”

Ralf Brandstätter, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG for China, said: “With our ‘In China, for China’ strategy, we are strengthening the innovative power of the Volkswagen Group in China. By expanding our partnership with XPENG and consistently integrating with China’s industrial ecosystem, we will align our products even faster to the needs of Chinese customers. Both partners bring their strengths to the table. This increases efficiency, optimises cost structures and accelerates the speed of development. High cost-effectiveness and a fast pace of development are crucial for our competitiveness in China’s dynamic market environment. Through such efforts, we are taking on a leading role in the age of intelligent connected vehicles.”