Features
23 Apr 18

Lisbon becomes VW’s software development hub

Volkswagen Group is developing a software development center for Volkswagen Group IT and MAN Truck & Bus AG in Lisbon. About 300 IT specialists, especially software engineers, web developers and UX designers, will be employed at the new facility over the next few years. They will be concentrating on the development of cloud-based software solutions for the further digitalization of corporate processes within the Group and for the connected vehicle.

“We want to recruit highly qualified, highly motivated IT specialists in Portugal. Our new software development center in Lisbon will be the decisive next step. We are transferring the success story of our Berlin digital labs to Portugal: combining exciting tasks with the most advanced agile working methods of the IT scene”, said Martin Hofmann, CIO of the Volkswagen Group.

Stephan Fingerling, MAN’s Chief Information Officer: “We are gradually moving away from being a commercial vehicles manufacturer with a focus on hardware to become a provider of sustainable and intelligent transportation solutions. Digital services have an important part to play in this transformation.”

Two weeks ago, VW revealed the electric MAN eTGE as a more affordable alternative to the eCrafter, equally marking the group’s transition to a 360-degree transition to sustainable transport solutions.    

VW: levering Portugal's potential

The Volkswagen Group has been present in Portugal for 25 years. The Palmela-based Volkswagen Autoeuropa plant is the largest automotive site in the country and employs about 5,900 people. It produces the VW T-Roc, the VW Sharan and the SEAT Alhambra.

According to a Financial Times report, Portugal's economy is growing at its fastest rate since 2000, partly thanks to the multiple grants and tax incentives created by the government. Its capital is fast becoming a creative and tech startup hub, helped by accelerator funding, tech incubators and newly refurbished coworking spaces, Forbes reports.

 

Picture copyright: Wikimedia Commons, 2018

 

Authored by: Dieter Quartier