The BMW Group has chosen Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its preferred cloud provider for its automated driving platform. AWS will be used to develop the next-generation advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) for BMW’s next generation of vehicles, set to launch in 2025. The new cloud-based system will utilize BMW’s existing Cloud Data Hub on AWS, as well as AWS compute, generative artificial intelligence (generative AI), Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, and storage capabilities. This collaboration aims to accelerate the delivery of highly automated BMW vehicles.
The senior vice president of Driving Experience at BMW Group, Dr. Nicolai Martin, stated that consumer habits and expectations will drive significant changes in the automotive industry in the next decade. The collaboration with AWS allows BMW to build its new automated driving platform on a scalable, secure, and reliable infrastructure, helping to empower the next generation of automated driving and parking functions.
ADAS currently supports drivers with early warning systems and capabilities that enhance safety and comfort. By developing the next generation ADAS platform on AWS, BMW’s engineers can quickly respond to customer demands and deliver new features to improve the driving experience. This efficiency, supported by the cloud, will enable BMW to innovate features for its future vehicles and keep drivers focused on the road.
In addition to working with AWS, BMW Group has also partnered with Qualcomm Technologies to co-develop next-generation automated driving systems based on the Snapdragon Ride Platform. Through this collaboration, BMW engineers gain access to leading hardware, vision software, and cloud capabilities, facilitating end-to-end automated driving development. Placing BMW’s automated driving platform in the cloud breaks down development silos and fosters global collaboration with suppliers, further accelerating innovation in automated driving.
AWS will also support the scalability of BMW Group’s infrastructure to handle the increasing data creation and usage within automated driving feature development. As automakers deploy higher-level automated driving functions, more data is generated for engineering teams to analyze and utilize in future feature development. The cloud-based infrastructure provided by AWS will serve as the foundation for developing and delivering new functions, such as lane departure assist or hands-free driving, at a faster pace.
The BMW Group will leverage AWS services to power its new scalable automated driving platform. This platform will accelerate the development life cycle and expand across BMW models. AWS’s services, such as Amazon S3 and Amazon SageMaker, will be used for data processing, cataloging, storage, and machine learning model development and training. Large-scale simulations can also be conducted on AWS compute instances for verification purposes. This approach allows BMW Group to test and validate software versions more efficiently, ensuring the system’s safety and reducing time to market.
According to Wendy Bauer, general manager of Automotive and Manufacturing at AWS, automating driving systems aim to provide driver assistance technology that not only enhances convenience but also helps prevent injuries and saves lives. The BMW Group, with the support of AWS and Qualcomm Technologies, has the tools required to turn its vision of delivering safe, premium quality, high-performance, and highly automated driving functions into reality.