In recent years, Volkswagen (VW) has been struggling to keep up with the rapid advancements in automotive technology. One area where they have lagged behind is in software development, which has become increasingly important for the modern car. This has led to a series of setbacks for the German automaker, including costly recalls, software bugs, and a reputation for being outdated.
However, with the appointment of a new CEO, Herbert Diess, there is hope that VW’s software woes will soon be resolved. Diess, who took over as CEO in 2018, has made it clear that he wants to make software development a top priority at VW. In fact, he has already begun to shake up the company’s management team in an effort to turn things around.
One of the first steps Diess took was to create a new division within VW called the Car.Software Organization. This division is responsible for developing the software that runs in VW’s cars, and it is staffed with over 5,000 engineers. The Car.Software Organization is a key part of Diess’s plan to make VW a leader in the development of electric and autonomous vehicles.
However, even with the new division in place, VW still has a long way to go to catch up with its competitors. Companies like Tesla and Google have been investing heavily in software development for years, and they have a head start on VW. Additionally, there is a shortage of software engineers around the world, which makes it difficult for companies like VW to find and retain top talent.
To overcome these challenges, Diess has been making changes to VW’s management team. He has brought in new executives from companies like BMW and Apple, who have experience in software development. He has also been working to create a more agile and entrepreneurial culture within the company, which he hopes will help to attract and retain top talent.
Despite these efforts, there are still some challenges that Diess and his team will need to overcome if they want to make VW a leader in software development. One of the biggest challenges is the company’s size and bureaucracy. VW is a massive organization, and it can be difficult to make changes quickly. Additionally, there are many different departments within the company, which can make it hard to coordinate efforts and get everyone on the same page.
Another challenge is the company’s reputation. VW was hit hard by the diesel emissions scandal, which damaged the company’s credibility and trust among consumers. It will take time and effort to rebuild that trust and convince customers that VW is committed to making high-quality, reliable software.
Despite these challenges, there is reason to be optimistic about VW’s future. With Diess at the helm, the company is taking software development seriously and making the necessary changes to become a leader in the industry. If they can overcome the challenges they face, VW could be well-positioned to compete with the likes of Tesla and Google in the years to come.
