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Freshfields advises Volkswagen and Cariad on engineering cooperation with Bosch
Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has advised Volkswagen AG and its subsidiary Cariad SE on an engineering cooperation with Bosch in the field of automated driving.
Aim of the alliance is to make partially and highly automated driving available to the broad mass of consumers. So-called level 2 "hands-free" systems are to be are to be made available for vehicles of the Volkswagen Group's brand groups – this will allow drivers to temporarily take their hands off the steering wheel. In addition, a system is planned in which the vehicle takes over all driving functions on the freeway (SAE level 3). The first of these functions are to be installed already in 2023.
For partially and highly automated driving, the two companies will jointly develop a state-of-the-art, standardized software platform. The aim is to use this platform in all privately used vehicle classes sold under Volkswagen Group brands – and thus in one of the world’s biggest vehicle fleets. It will also be possible to integrate all the component parts developed by the alliance in other automakers’ vehicles and ecosystems.
The Freshfields team comprised: Bertram Burtscher (Partner), Maria-Luise Fellner (Principal Associate), Boris Klimpfinger (Associate), Estella Dannhausen (Associate, all Corporate, Vienna) as well as Lutz Riede (Counsel) and Miriam Benmoussa (Associate, both IP, Vienna).
In addition, the team received support in commercial aspects from Klaus Beucher, who was partner at Freshfields until April 2021 and is now self-employed.
