STUTTGART (dpa-AFX) - The commercial vehicle manufacturers Daimler Truck
and Volvo are planning a joint venture to develop a common software
platform and operating system for heavy trucks.

The aim is to make the new company a leading developer of
standardized hardware and software, the manufacturers jointly
announced on Friday.

The chief executive of Germany's Daimler Truck, Martin Daum, said
that the aim was to develop differentiating digital vehicle features
for global customers significantly faster and more efficiently.

And the chief executive of Sweden's Volvo, Martin Lundstedt, added
that they are now joining forces to offer customers the benefits that
a software-defined vehicle platform for trucks will bring more
quickly.

The new joint venture is to be based in the western Swedish city of
Gothenburg.

Daimler Truck and Volvo emphasized that they will remain competitors
in other business areas.

Both companies are already working together on fuel cells in the
Cellcentric joint venture.

They plan to build a plant near the south-western German city of
Stuttgart, where Daimler is headquartered, to develop alternative
drive systems for heavy lorries.


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