Mercedes Benz

Volkswagen plans to roll out its Sedric self-driving car in the U.S. The European auto industry has a fear when it comes to the advent of autonomous driving. It's that Europe is falling behind in the new technology race, losing the competitive advantage to companies in the U.S. and China, where advanced research is occurring faster and more freely. Johann Jungwirth, for one, is visibly frustrated. Volkswagen Group's chief digital officer knows that automotive companies are locked in a battle with tech companies for leadership in autonomous driving. Jungwirth, a former Apple engineer, fears European regulations are hampering efforts to bring VW's battery-powered Sedric concept to market. VW management has decided to move Sedric, short for "self-driving car," into production. But instead of in VW's home market of Germany, it will launch first in the U.S. "My goal is to be in the first U.S. cities with driverless cars in 2021," Jungwirth said as he pre...