Volkswagen has announced that more than two million of its vehicles are now equipped with 'Car2X' technology. This system allows cars to communicate with each other and roadside infrastructure, creating a 'local swarm intelligence' to warn of hazards.
The technology, standard or optional in models like the Golf, ID series, and Passat, uses a Wi-Fi-based standard with an 800-meter range. It enables instant, anonymous warnings about emergencies, traffic queues, wrong-way drivers, or obstacles without needing mobile network reception.
Developed from earlier European V2V projects, Car2X exchanges data in milliseconds. It can integrate with other car systems, like adaptive cruise control, to automatically adjust speed when detecting unseen queues ahead.
Germany and Austria are deploying the technology in roadwork trailers and motorway networks, with other European countries following. Volkswagen anticipates extending Car2X to motorcycles, trucks, and bicycles in the future.