BMW Group Introduces AI to Optimize Crash Testing and Software Development

Gaishi Automotive News - BMW Group has recently begun to fully apply artificial intelligence (AI) technology in its vehicle development process, focusing on improving the efficiency of collision test data analysis and accelerating the software development process. According to the company's statement, this technology has been applied to optimize body structure and material design, significantly reducing the time required for software writing.

BMW Group is collaborating with French artificial intelligence company Mistral AI to jointly develop next-generation crash test analysis methods. The two parties aim to use AI technology to make crash testing for all BMW products more precise and efficient, while accelerating the processing of test data. This initiative will impact work standards across the entire chain, from design and production to marketing.

Image source: BMW

According to Dr. Franz Decker, Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President of BMW Group, the company places great emphasis on data processing capabilities across its internal business areas to drive continuous improvements in product quality. Currently, BMW conducts thousands of accident simulations and real-world crash tests each week, and the introduction of AI enables engineers to observe the structural and material performance of vehicles after simulated crashes in greater detail.

In addition, artificial intelligence is also being used to accelerate the software development of future vehicle models. BMW's development director, Joachim Post, pointed out that AI has significantly reduced the reliance on human labor: "In the past, we needed more employees to complete related tasks; now, with the help of AI, for example in coding, we have achieved extremely high development speeds, thereby overall accelerating the R&D process." He cited an example where a software task that used to take an entire day can now be completed in just a few minutes.

AI-driven data analysis will also directly influence the selection of materials for vehicle structural components, which have a direct or indirect impact on the safety performance of BMW models. By deeply integrating AI into the early stages of the production process, BMW aims to further improve development efficiency and resource utilization while ensuring safety.