Dusseldorf Volkswagen presented its own app store at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. In principle, this is open to Google applications. Mercedes announced last week that it would integrate Google Maps and YouTube into its MB.OS operating system.
The topic of software is becoming more and more important, as many future business models depend on it. “Every car manufacturer has to produce its own operating system so that it can later offer essential functions such as over-the-air updates,” says Thomas Jahn, head of the Handelsblatt technology team. In the digital age, that is the guarantee of survival.
On the other hand, Google itself wants to conquer the car market with its Android operating system. “The question will be how strong Google’s access to individual vehicle data will be,” says Handelsblatt reporter Lazar Backovic.
Jahn doesn’t believe that German automakers will capitulate to Google. Auto software will account for an increasing share of value creation over the next few years. Tesla is a good example of this. “No CEO can escape this logic,” says Jahn.
More: VW sets course for Google cooperation
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