Volkswagen Advocates for Collective Intelligence in Road Safety
- Published on 06/01/2026 9:56
Volkswagen is expanding a program based on the analysis of real data to 40 European countries in order to improve road safety.
The Volkswagen Group has announced the launch of a European initiative dedicated to improving road safety through data-driven learning. Starting from January 2026, the group’s brands will utilize, with customers’ consent, data and images from vehicles in real traffic to continuously optimize their driving assistance systems and automated driving functions.
Already successfully tested in Germany, this approach will be gradually deployed in 40 European markets, including France, where it will come into effect on January 16, 2026. The brands involved are Volkswagen, CUPRA, Skoda, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Audi, and Porsche. The goal is to enrich algorithms from real driving situations, which are considered more representative than prototype tests or digital simulations.
The more you drive, the better you drive
Specifically, vehicles will be able to transmit, in a non-continuous manner and only in specific situations, certain data from their sensors. This could include, for instance, emergency braking, sudden evasive maneuvers, or intentional stops. The collected information includes images from cameras, speed data, steering angle, direction, as well as contextual elements like weather, visibility, or lighting conditions.
Engineers are particularly focusing on sensitive scenarios: interactions with pedestrians or cyclists, intersections near schools, complex supermarket parking lots, or congested urban areas. In these environments, better-calibrated assistance systems can, for example, anticipate a potential danger and prepare the braking system to reduce reaction time.
The Volkswagen Group emphasizes that customer consent is an essential prerequisite, in accordance with European and national data protection regulations. This consent can be given and revoked at any time through various channels specific to each brand. The data is processed with strict respect for privacy, and detailed information will be made available on the brands’ websites starting in January 2026 in France.
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By relying on real driving experience, Volkswagen aims to provide assistance perceived as more effective and encourage its permanent use for the benefit of all road users.
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This page is translated from the original post "Volkswagen prône l’intelligence collective pour la sécurité routière" in French.
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