Porsche has announced a new collaboration with technology company Mobileye to develop automated assistance and navigation functions for their next-generation models. These features will allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel on certain roads and enable the car to follow navigation routes selected by the driver, change lanes, and overtake slower vehicles on multi-lane roads.
The German automaker will use Mobileye’s SuperVision platform, with Porsche’s engineers handling the integration, tuning, and customization of the driver monitoring system, interface, and Porsche Communication Management system. This approach demonstrates Porsche’s commitment to meeting the specific needs of its customers, even if it means foregoing a cheaper, off-the-shelf solution.
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Michael Steiner, Porsche’s Board Member for Research and Development, reassured that drivers will still be able to drive Porsches themselves in the future but the company is interested in exploring certain aspects of partially automated driving, such as enabling drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel during long and tedious traffic jams.
Mobileye’s SuperVision platform continuously monitors the vehicle’s environment, enabling the system to take control in various scenarios. Equipped with this technology, models like the Polestar 4 can autonomously follow navigation routes, change lanes, and overtake slower vehicles on multi-lane roads through the use of AI software. Porsche has confirmed that the SuperVision platform will also be adopted by other VW Group brands in the future.
The CEO of Porsche, Oliver Blume, praised Mobileye as “one of the world’s leading providers of automated driving functions”. Given Mobileye’s longstanding partnership with VW Group, it’s no surprise that Porsche has chosen to collaborate with them for its own models. VW Group also works with other partners in the ADAS field on a global scale, including Bosch and Qualcomm, as well as Horizon Robotics in China.
Sportscar and supercar owners might be less interested in sophisticated ADAS compared to owners of regular cars and SUVs, but regardless of the vehicle type, automakers have to keep up with technological advancements to stay relevant. Porsche also needs automated driving systems for mainstream offerings like the Macan and the Cayenne SUVs, but chances are its entire range – including the iconic 911 – will benefit to a certain degree from the same tech, making daily driving easier and safer for all.
