BMW and Critical Software have been working together in the field of automotive software engineering for quite some time now. However, this week, the two entities decided to take things a step further and create a joint-venture project under the Critical TechWorks name. This strategic expansion of their cooperation is currently subject to examination and approval from the relevant competition authorities to make sure a cartel isn’t taking shape.
This move further emphasizes just how important software will be for cars in the future and shows once again that BMW is committed to transforming into a tech company, moving away from the ‘car maker’ badge. Critical TechWorks will complement the constantly expanding BMW Group network in the fields of software development and IT. The two partners stand to benefit from Critical Software’s many years of experience in agile software development and the over 100 years of experience of the BMW Group in the advancement of mobility.
Critical TechWorks will be bringing its expertise to bear in vehicle connectivity, cloud-based IT solutions and the digitalisation of corporate processes. The joint venture seeks to initiate interdisciplinary collaboration both in the customer-relevant fields of infotainment and digital services, and when it comes to the digitalisation and automation of product development, production and sales.
The BMW Group’s stake in Critical TechWorks secures it access to the know-how and skills of a highly successful European software development company. The Lisbon and Porto locations are witnessing particularly dynamic growth in this sector. Together with the companies already located in Portugal, this is contributing to the emergence of a European technology ecosystem for the development of digital services and products. At the same time, the BMW Group is increasing the number of IT and software development employees both in Germany and at its many other facilities around the world.
