PressClub Latin America, Caribbean · Article.
BMW Startup Garage rolls out innovations in record time.
02.08.2023 Press Release
+++ In-car gaming available in production models just a few months after project launch +++ BMW Startup Garage 2022 completes 32 projects +++ BMW Group expands international cooperations with startups +++
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Edgar Tellez
BMW Group
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Author.
Edgar Tellez
BMW Group
Munich. From idea to series feature in just a few
months: BMW Group and the Swiss start-up AirConsole have rolled out a
jointly developed solution for in-car gaming in record time. Since
July, BMW drivers and passengers have been able to pass the time with
computer games on the vehicle’s Curved Display during breaks, using
their smartphones as controllers. The function is being made available
for the first time with the launch of the new BMW 5 Series and will be
offered successively for other models*. This innovative collaboration
proves the success of the venture client model developed by the car
manufacturer for the BMW Startup Garage.
Quick access to start-up ideas for the BMW
Group
The special feature of this form of collaboration
is that founders retain their shares in their company, since BMW does
not participate as an investor, but rather as a customer (‘venture
client’). “The Startup Garage promotes the integration of
state-of-the-art startup technologies throughout the entire
organisation”, says Toni Plöchl, Startup Manager R&D at BMW. BMW
supports start-ups with the concentrated expertise of an international
automotive group and, in return, gets quick access to new ideas.
“It was impressive how quickly we were able to work with the BMW
research department as a result of the BMW Startup Garage. This was
the only way to get the AirConsole solution for in-car gaming from a
prototype to a BMW series feature as quickly as possible,” says
Anthony Cliquot, CEO of N-Dream, the company behind AirConsole.
BMW also benefited from the start-up’s approach. Plöchl: “Thanks
to the venture client model, the Proof of Concept was completed in
record time. This proves the agility and effectiveness of our approach.”
New record number of projects, further increase
planned
Last year, the venture client unit completed a
total of 32 pilot projects with leading start-ups. Since the Startup
Garage was founded, 20 start-ups have managed to become regular
suppliers after the pilot project.
In-car gaming with AirConsole is the first development project
that has made the leap into production models and can be directly
experienced by customers using their vehicles. In other areas, such as
production, projects have also already been implemented, for example
with regards to automated driving on the factory premises. To increase
logistics efficiency, the vehicles move independently within the
assembly area and then to the logistics parking areas – safely and
without a driver. In this project, the BMW Group is working together
with the start-ups Seoul Robotics (South Korea) and Embotech (Switzerland).
“In 2023, we want to further surpass the current record number
of pilot projects with startups,” announces Plöchl. “Start-ups that
have such great ideas as in-car gaming and focus on immersive
in-vehicle experiences and other topics related to the digitalisation
of mobility can apply to the venture client programme at any time.” In
addition, international activities are to be expanded as part of the
programme. “The United States are currently of particular interest to
us,” says Plöchl. BMW already has two Tech Offices there, in Mountain
View and Greenville. However, cooperations with the BMW Startup Garage
are also possible at the other Tech Office locations in Tel Aviv
(Israel), Singapore, Shanghai (China), Seoul (South Korea) and Tokyo (Japan).
* Ex works: BMW 7 Series, BMW iX, BMW i4 from production 07/23;
BMW X5, BMW X6, BMW X7, BMW XM, BMW X5 M, BMW X6 M from production
date 08/23. Other BMW models from the mid-size class upwards will
follow gradually. Further vehicles that can be updated to BMW
Operating System 8.5 at a later date via Remote Software Upgrade
include: BMW 7 Series from production date 07/22; BMW iX from
production date 03/23; BMW X5, BMW X6, BMW X7, BMW XM, BMW X5 M, BMW
X6 M from production date 04/23.