SAP hopes to create the infrastructure to support connected cars, through a pilot programme with Shell and Volkswagen.

Announcing the co-innovation pilot today at SAP TechEd, the programme will investigate how Internet of Things (IoT) vehicles would interact with their environment.

The three companies hope that by working together, they can lay the foundations for a raft of connected car services, including ‘connected fuelling’.

SAP executive board member Bernd Leukert said the research required the expertise of more than firm to achieve the aim.

He said: "We believe the combination of simplicity, functionality and innovation is needed to create a seamless consumer experience. No company alone can deliver such an end-to-end experience.

"Our collaboration with Volkswagen and Shell is a great showcase for the power of collaboration and innovation within a networked economy, with SAP HANA Cloud Platform, to simplify daily complexity."

Volkswagen’s head of electric and electronic development, Volkmar Tanneberger, added: "The successful cross-industry pilot project demonstrates potential implementations of future mobility concepts and their utility and convenience for our customers.

"Customer feedback on this pilot project is important to us as it helps us consider how to increase the use of mobility concepts in the future."

The project is the first time the three companies have worked together on a pilot, and aims to create a cloud-based tool based on SAP’s HANA platform to address the challenges.

The announcement follows Vodafone signing deals with Audi and Volkwagen in Europe to provide vehicles with connectivity, starting with new Audi models from next year.

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