Audi recently conducted an interdisciplinary discussion, with approximately 120 participants, focused on automobile connectivity with infrastructure, road users and mobile applications. It was an attempt to further intensify the open exchange of opinions and experience with experts from the fields of business, science and politics.
“Communication between vehicles, between vehicles and infrastructure, and between vehicles and the Internet can significantly improve safety on the roads,” emphasized Axel Strotbek, CFO of AudiAG. “Digitalization and connectivity offer new development opportunities for the mobility of the future, in combination with enhanced quality of life,” he continued.
Tech blogger Sascha Pallenberg said that he does not believe that cars will disappear from cities, but that they will become important network nodes. In his keynote speech, Pallenberg indicated on the one hand how global developments will revolutionize mobility, and on the other hand how the automobile itself can trigger revolutionary developments. At the same time, he appealed for more courage in dealing with issues such as digitalization and data networking. He emphasized that the digitalised car has the potential to be “the next big thing,” but, it’s not a task solely for the automotive industry. According to Pallenberg, the car will increasingly become a product of connectivity and the exchange between industries and sectors that to a great extent are now operating independently of each other.
José Castillo, architect and Harvard professor, also a participant in this year’s Audi Urban Future Award in the Mexico City team, presented his vision of a city that “drives out of traffic congestion on the data highway.” For what the IBM Commuter Pain Index has found to be “the world’s worst commuter metropolis,” he aimed to demonstrate that thanks to the intelligent use of data, individual mobility can solve the problems it has created. By means of crowdsourcing, a valid database has been created in Mexico City to facilitate sustainable urban and transport planning. “The goal is to test new forms of cooperation between governments, companies, science and citizens, in order to develop mobility in the city of the future in a positive way,” explained Castillo.
In addition to opportunities for the mobility of the future, Audi dealt with the issue of data security. The automobile manufacturer is aware that increasing connectivity means that questions will have to be asked about dealing with data responsibly. Audi experts showed how the technical conditions for handling data safely will already be created during the stage of developing new cars. Peter Tropschuh, head of corporate responsibility at AUDI AG, sees contributions from stakeholders as “impetus for future developments.” He believes that the regular exchange of ideas and experience with them helps the company to identify and process society’s expectations and challenges at an early stage.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
