Volkswagen (VW) CEO Herbert Diess has admitted that Tesla has a significant lead in the software it uses for its self-driving program, according to internal conversations Diess had with associates.
The company pioneered over-the-air software updates in the automotive industry.
Initially, it was said that this feature is reminiscent of smartphones and allows for a better “user experience” in the car.
However, Tesla's use of over-the-air software updates has evolved and is now at the center of the automaker's effort to achieve a fully self-driving system.
Volkswagen recognizes this, and its CEO, Hebert Diess, seems to be starting to get “worried.”.
German magazine Automobilwoche obtained some internal conversations that had taken place at Volkswagen. In them, the CEO is said to have mentioned Tesla’s software and admitted that it is better than theirs and “any other car manufacturer.”
In internal conversations, Diess says Tesla's lead is giving him a "headache.".
He admitted that customers seem satisfied with Tesla's software and its features, such as using the phone to control the vehicle and "building" the user around a central display inside the car.
But what worries VW's CEO more is the use of Tesla software in the Autopilot program:
“What worries me most is the capabilities in the assistance systems. 500,000 Teslas operate as a neural network that constantly collects data and provides the customer with a new driving experience, every 14 days with improved properties. No other car manufacturer can do this.”
Diess also said that, unlike most automakers and companies working on autonomous driving, Tesla does not rely solely on internal testing or simulations to collect data for the Autopilot program.
Tesla leverages its large fleet of electric vehicles (equipped with sensors) to collect data and improve its features.
VW CEO says his company is trying to bring new features to compete with Tesla.
VW has already created many features for its new ID3that are similar to those in Tesla vehicles. However, the company is facing “huge” software problems with the new electric car.
In the leaked conversations, Diess presented the company's directors with a graph that showed Tesla's superiority over other automakers.
The CEO admitted that they still have a long way to go to catch up with Tesla.
Diess has spoken about Tesla's lead before, but not as openly as in these internal conversations with colleagues. In the past, he was more optimistic about VW's ability to catch up with its rival.
