Consumers of Volkswagen model’s ID full-electric vehicles will quickly be capable of improve their autos with over-the-air updates and switch their private settings between completely different vehicles, paving the way in which for profitable add-on companies.

Using modular software program techniques in new vehicles is one side of the automaker’s Speed up digitalization technique, outlined by executives in an internet “Innovation Discuss” on Tuesday.

“Sooner or later, it’ll more and more be the case that prospects will make their decisions based mostly extra on what the software program presents, and never essentially on the automobile’s prime velocity,” mentioned growth boss Thomas Ulbrich.

VW needs to offer prospects the choice to unlock pre-installed options or order extra companies, starting from heated seats to navigation techniques.

“Sooner or later, our prospects will purchase, lease, share or lease vehicles only for a weekend, and we are able to use software program to offer them with no matter they want over the air,” VW model’s gross sales chief Klaus Zellmer mentioned. “The ID household has been designed for additional growth, with OTA updates to enhance the software program’s efficiency and tailor it to our prospects’ wants.”

Individually in an interview with Die Welt newspaper, Zellmer mentioned VW could offer autonomous driving on a pay-per-use basis.

“We assume a worth of round seven euros per hour. So if you don’t want to drive your self for 3 hours you’ll be able to pay 21 euros to get it achieved,” Zellmer advised the paper.

VW has mentioned the first over-the-air will be available to ID customers before the end of the summer.

Zellmer mentioned he sees the potential for “triple-digit-millions” in gross sales by way of over-the-air upgrades.

Each Zellmer and Ulbrich acknowledged the corporate should develop software program sooner and turn into extra buyer oriented, pointing to the rising pains skilled with software program rollouts on the newest Golf and ID3.

“There have been software program bugs, there is not any query about it, however we consider within the potential for the software program in these vehicles,” Ulbrich mentioned. “We’re going by way of a metamorphosis section. There isn’t any such factor as a automobile with out software program, and that is why it is on the middle of our growth actions.”

The dialog additionally briefly touched on VW’s Project Trinity self-driving electric vehicle deliberate for unveiling in 2026, which Ulbrich referred to as mentioned would carry e-mobility and software program onto an “totally new stage” and pushed by a brand new software program stack, together with absolutely autonomous driving. 

“We’re all conscious the vehicles of the long run have to supply the identical comfort that individuals anticipate from client electronics,” he mentioned.

The corporate plans to supply extra fashions to enhance its WeShare car-sharing service, at present working in Germany, and open potential new markets in Italy, France, and Spain.