Volvo Automobiles appears to be like to Nvidia-powered software program, ‘megacastings’ for future EVs By Reuters
By Nick Carey and Marie Mannes
(Reuters) – Volvo (OTC:) Automobiles will use a single software program system backed by highly effective chips from Nvidia (NASDAQ:) for all future fashions and can depend on “megacastings” to chop prices for electrical vehicles, the corporate mentioned on Thursday.
In releases forward of a deliberate investor occasion in Gothenburg, Volvo mentioned that beginning with its flagship electrical EX90 mannequin – which the Swedish automaker will start delivering to prospects this month – it is going to have a single “know-how stack” for all automobile fashions.
The EX90’s software program system is backed by Nvidia’s DRIVE Orin system-on-a-chip, which is able to over 250 trillion operations per second (TOPS) and shall be changed later this decade by a chip able to 1,000 trillion TOPS, Volvo mentioned.
That software program will assist Volvo construct higher security programs for its vehicles and continually enhance automobiles in circulation through over-the-air updates, Chief Engineering & Know-how Officer Anders Bell instructed Reuters.
Most main automakers say software-defined electrical automobiles (EVs) will present alternatives to generate billions of {dollars} in extra income from promoting subscription providers, however Bell mentioned Volvo is not going to pursue that enterprise mannequin.
“The first purpose is to make the automobile higher and have a extra sticky product, to not promote a number of subscriptions,” he mentioned.
Bell mentioned Volvo will depend on “megacastings”, which like gigacasting use huge presses to make massive single aluminium items of auto underbodies.
Utilizing these massive single items lowers prices as they exchange many particular person items that must be welded collectively.
Tesla (NASDAQ:) has been a pioneer in the usage of gigacasting, with a rising variety of automakers together with Basic Motors (NYSE:) and Nissan (OTC:) following swimsuit.
Bell mentioned that by way of the usage of megacasting, Volvo will even be capable of vastly enhance the usage of recycled aluminium and scale back emissions all through its provide chain.
