cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/54137909
Nissan Motor is similarly trying to produce cars faster by deploying tips it learned from a Chinese joint venture. Toyota Motor is bringing in engineers from its Chinese partnerships to better develop electric and smartcars.
Volkswagen takes a little less than four years to get a new product to the market, while Chinese companies are able to do so in a little more than 2½ years, Brandstätter has said. Now it is aiming to cut its vehicle development process to about 2½ years, he said.
That would be achieved through a bundle of actions, some of which are inspired by the Chinese way.
One is to use more Chinese components obtained from speedy local suppliers, rather than relying on German ones. From display and media systems to EV batteries and headlights, Volkswagen said sourcing these items from Chinese suppliers will cut development time by roughly 30% and costs by between 20% to 40%.
Volkswagen is also investing billions of dollars in local companies to get its hands on cutting-edge Chinese technology. Those include Chinese EV startup XPeng and battery maker Gotion High-Tech as well as Horizon Robotics, which makes automotive software and chips focused on autonomous driving, and ThunderSoft, which makes operating systems and software for smart cockpits.
…and this is how you make a battery spontaneously combust.
