Volkswagen and Bosch are reshaping the landscape of electric vehicle (EV) charging and parking, introducing an innovative autonomous system. The German automaker, in partnership with Bosch, is testing a groundbreaking automated parking and charging system. The system directs driverless electric cars to available parking spaces equipped with charging stations, where a charging robot takes over the charging process. Once charging is complete, the EV autonomously moves to another open parking space, enabling the charging robot to assist another vehicle. This initiative aims to address challenges like long queues at charging stations and manual cable handling.

Bosch and Volkswagen’s collaborative efforts extend beyond automated parking and charging. VW has announced plans to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its vehicles, commencing in the second quarter of 2024. This AI chatbot will be available across all VW models, including popular ones like Tiguan, Passat, Golf, and the electric ID family. Initially launching in Europe, the feature will later extend to customers in the United States.

Volkswagen intends to leverage ChatGPT to enhance its in-car voice assistant, IDA (Intelligent Driving Assistant). This integration aims to facilitate more natural and intuitive communication between the car and the driver. Owners can use the voice assistant to manage basic functions like climate control and receive answers to general queries. Notably, VW emphasizes user convenience by not mandating new accounts or app installations. The chatbot activation is as simple as a friendly greeting or a press of the steering wheel button. Additionally, VW assures users that OpenAI won’t access driving statistics, ensuring a high level of data protection with immediate deletion of questions and answers. Volkswagen’s dual push into automated parking technology and advanced in-car AI reflects its commitment to pioneering innovation in the electric vehicle sector.