Volkswagen Joins Automated Vehicle Consortium

Volkswagen Group of America has joined the Automated Vehicle Safety Consortium, a engineering working group that's developing best safety practices for AV technology.

The automaker will "have a hand in providing expertise to the team by sharing collective learning and perspectives of the entire Volkswagen group" that includes Audi, Volkswagen, and other divisions, according to the group.

"As we continue developing best practices around the safe deployment of automated vehicles, it's important that we expand the AVSC to bring together innovative companies from across the world," said Edward Straub, the consortium's executive director. "Volkswagen is known for manufacturing safe and reliable vehicles. Now as an AVSC member, it is continuing its commitment to making our roads safer with reliable AV technology."

Volkswagen has made several moves toward expanding its development of autonomous vehicle technology. In July, the company invested $2.6 billion in Argo AI, a Pittsburgh-based AV startup.

The consortium's other members include SAE International, Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Uber ATG, Daimler, and Honda.