Belmont, Calif. (September 22, 2017) – President of the Slovak Republic Andrej Kiska and Deputy Prime Minister of Investments of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini toured the Volkswagen Group of America Electronic Research Lab (ERL) in Belmont, Calif., on Thursday, September 21, 2017, as part of a broader Silicon Valley visit.
President Kiska and Deputy Prime Minister Pellegrini received an overview of technological developments underway at the lab, including next-generation electric mobility projects, autonomous driving, advanced driver assistance systems, as well as in-vehicle innovations such as connectivity, infotainment, and machine learning.
'It was an honor to host President Kiska and Deputy Prime Minister Pellegrini at our research lab and highlight the great work of our passionate team members,' said Nikolai Reimer, Senior Vice President and Executive Director, Volkswagen Group of America Electronics Research Laboratory. 'At the ERL, our experts believe that if we can dream it, we can build it—and we do—so it is always wonderful to share this thrilling environment with visitors.'
In the Slovak Republic Volkswagen Group is one of the largest vehicle manufacturers and economic contributors. The Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne are assembled in Bratislava.
Chuhee Lee, Vice President Technology and Strategy, Volkswagen Group of America Electronics Research Laboratory, gave President Kiska and Deputy Prime Minister Pellegrini a tour of the facility including an overview on the ERL's work on autonomous driving that started with the participation of 2005 DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) Grand Challenge where a Volkswagen Touareg named 'Stanley' finished first.
The ERL is the largest advanced technology laboratory for Volkswagen Group outside of Germany, with more than 160 employees. At the ERL, experts from many technological disciplines work together to make vehicles more intelligent, connected, and efficient.
About Volkswagen Group of America Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL)
Volkswagen Group of America Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL), located in Belmont, Calif., represents the Group's applied research and development initiatives in North America. With a focus on advanced technology, the ERL's mission is to identify and develop innovations for future generations of vehicles with the goal of transferring technologies from many industries into the automotive domain. The ERL was established in August 1998 with three employees. Today, the lab has grown to become the Volkswagen Group's largest advanced technology research and development laboratory of its kind outside of Germany, employing more than 160 engineers, social scientists, researchers, and product designers. Supporting Volkswagen Group brands such as Audi, VW, Bentley, Bugatti, Ducati, and Lamborghini, the ERL's prime Silicon Valley location has enabled the team to draw upon the region's innovative spirit while successfully bridging the gap between the Group's comprehensive engineering resources and Silicon Valley imagination.
About Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, one of the world's leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. VWGoA operates a manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee and houses the U.S. operations of a worldwide family of distinguished and exciting brands including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Volkswagen, as well as VW Credit, Inc. Founded in 1955, the company's headquarters are in Herndon, Va. The company has approximately 6,000 employees in the United States and sells its vehicles through a network of approximately 1,000 dealers.