Learning from Data: Volkswagen Group Launches Europe-Wide Initiative for Greater Road Safety - CleanTechnica

Volkswagen Group is launching a Europe-wide initiative starting January 2026 to enhance road safety by optimizing driver assistance systems using sensor and image data collected from customer vehicles in real traffic conditions. Building on successful experience in Germany, the program will expand to about 40 European countries and cover multiple Volkswagen Group brands, including Volkswagen Passenger Cars, CUPRA, ŠKODA, Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The data-driven improvements will be delivered via software updates, aiming to increase driving comfort and safety for all road users. Importantly, the initiative requires explicit customer consent in full compliance with national and European data protection laws, with consent revocable at any time. The data collection focuses on specific traffic scenarios where driver assistance systems are most beneficial, such as intersections near schools or busy parking lots, triggered by events like emergency braking or evasive maneuvers. Relevant data includes camera images, sensor detections, vehicle dynamics (speed, steering angle), and environmental conditions (weather, visibility). This approach