Volkswagen To Showcase The Auto@web Project at CeBIT

HANOVER, 6 March 2009 - Volkswagen is showcasing the “auto@web” Tiguan, an innovative new development in the world of information and communication, at CeBIT which started on 3 March in Hanover. The vehicle built by Volkswagen Group Research combined with a WiFi network created especially by the research cooperative “Wireless Wolfsburg” automatically provides the driver with up-to-date information about his surroundings on the display of his navigation system.

In the latest generations of vehicles, no-one has to go without up-to-date information and entertainment anymore. Volkswagen will be starting a new trend with the "auto@web" Tiguan. The innovative car looks at how the Internet and cars will come together in the future. The Tiguan is in constant contact with an Internet portal, which provides it with current, pertinent information. This all happens unnoticed by the driver. The source of the information is the portal "Wireless Wolfsburg", which provides access to a wealth of information about Wolfsburg.

Among other things, the Tiguan has a link to the city's events calendar with a list of local attractions and venues. This selection of information appears neatly in the display of the navigation system. As an added convenience service, the new technology can give the driver access to up-to-date information about everything coming up along his route, like the number of free parking spaces in multi-storey car parks, rest stops and restaurants.

In Wolfsburg, the research cooperative "Wireless Wolfsburg" has developed one of Germany’s biggest connected city-wide WiFi networks. "Wireless Wolfsburg" has set up more than 50 hotspots across the whole city which allow users to access the WiFi network as well as tourist and cultural information about the city centre and the surrounding area.