VW Group makes Lisbon its software hub

The Volkswagen Group is further strengthening its international IT competence. In future, the Portuguese capital Lisbon will play a key role in these efforts.

In Lisbon, the Group is developing a software development centre for Volkswagen Group IT and MAN Truck & Bus. In the medium term, about 300 IT specialists, especially software engineers, web developers and UX designers, are to work at the new facility. They are concentrating on the development of cloud-based software solutions for the further digitalisation of corporate processes within the Group and for the connected vehicle. 

Fernando Medina, Mayor of Lisbon, said: “In Lisbon we are building a living innovative ecosystem, where great minds can develop their creativity knowing that they are welcome, have access to great quality of living and can be part of a buzzing tech and creative scene. But Lisbon is also pushing boundaries as an innovative and accessible city. We are driving open innovation, inviting partners to share and evolve on a common vision for mobility and create glimpses of the future.” 

Martin Hofmann, CIO of the Volkswagen Group, said: “We want to recruit highly qualified, highly motivated IT specialists in Portugal. Our new software development centre in Lisbon will be the decisive next step. We are transferring the success story of our Berlin digital labs to Portugal: combining exciting tasks with the most advanced agile working methods of the IT scene.” 

Stephan Fingerling, MAN’s Chief Information Officer, added: “We are gradually moving away from being a commercial vehicle manufacturer with a focus on hardware to become a provider of sustainable and intelligent transportation solutions. Digital services have an important part to play in this transformation. We already offer a wide range of online services for trucks in the form of RIO and MAN DigitalServices. Since 2017, our customers have been able to access the corresponding cloud-based services with any new MAN truck in Europe as standard. The new IT center in Lisbon will propel us considerably further on this journey.” 

The Volkswagen Group has been a key element in the Portuguese economy for more than 25 years. Volkswagen Autoeuropa, the largest automotive plant in the country, is based in Palmela with a workforce of about 5,900 people, producing the all new T-Roc, the Volkswagen Sharan and the Seat Alhambra.