In February 2025, Volkswagen Group and Dassault Systèmes signed a historic agreement: the 3DEXPERIENCE cloud platform will be used as a collaborative environment for the development of all the group’s vehicles. A decisive step that marks the beginning of a new era for one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers.
Check all the details of the agreement here
Now, just a few months later, this agreement already has a tangible first project: the Volkswagen ID.1 will be the first vehicle developed entirely with CATIA on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. An urban, electric, functional, and affordable car, with a target price below €20,000, designed and manufactured in Europe for Europe. Its production is scheduled for 2027 at the Palmela plant (Portugal).
What does this mean for the industry?
During the CATIA Summit 2025 held in Munich, Thomas Kamla —SVP and CTO of Volkswagen Group— explained the reasons and strategic objectives behind this transformation. In a live interview with Dassault Systèmes, Kamla addressed key issues such as:
- The complexity generated by the use of more than 450 different tools in R&D, and the urgent need for a single, connected environment.
- The challenge of hyper-personalization, which requires greater agility in product configuration and more integrated workflows.
- The SDV (Software Defined Vehicle) approach as a driver of innovation and differentiation.
- The use of virtual twins and artificial intelligence to accelerate development, improve quality, and reduce costs.
- The need to achieve faster homologation without losing regulatory rigor, optimizing processes through simulation and digital platforms.
Thomas Kamla (CTO of Volkswagen Group) and Philippe Laufer (Executive VP of Dassault Systèmes), during their appearance at the CATIA Summit held in Munich in June 2025.
“This is not just another project. It is THE PROJECT,” Kamla emphasizes. The ID.1 will be the first Volkswagen Group vehicle developed 100% in 3DEXPERIENCE and will set the path for future models.
You can watch the full interview with Thomas Kamla in the following video:
What does this mean for your company?
If your company is part of the Volkswagen Group value chain and you are still working with CATIA V5, this is the moment to start preparing. The transition to CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE is already underway, and it will transform the way you collaborate, share data, and validate products with OEMs.
Ready to make the move to CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE? Contact us here and we help you begin this transition with confidence.
