Wolfsburg, Germany/Montréal, Canada – 17 February 2025 – The Volkswagen Group has taken a significant leap forward in its digital transformation strategy by strengthening its collaboration with CGI, one of the world’s largest business and IT consulting firms. This enhanced partnership has led to the creation of MARV1N (pronounced “Marvin”), an international development unit designed to accelerate Group-wide digitalisation projects and support Volkswagen’s software development teams.
As the automotive industry undergoes a fundamental shift towards software-driven mobility solutions, Volkswagen is modernising its IT infrastructure to keep pace with the demands of a rapidly evolving market. By 2026, the company aims to replace hundreds of outdated legacy systems with a more powerful and scalable IT architecture. This strategic shift is expected to not only streamline operations and accelerate digital processes but also significantly cut IT-related operating costs across the Group.
MARV1N: A Dedicated Digitalisation Force
The newly established MARV1N unit, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CGI Germany, is positioned as a key driver of Volkswagen’s digitalisation push. By leveraging CGI’s global technology expertise and deep understanding of manufacturing business processes, MARV1N will focus exclusively on Volkswagen Group projects, ensuring a high degree of specialisation and efficiency.
“For the development and production of modern products, we need modern IT systems. At the Volkswagen Group, we are therefore working on our system landscape of the future: powerful, cross-brand, and scalable,” said Hauke Stars, Board Member at Volkswagen Group for IT. “Our deepened collaboration with CGI is a further step to secure the increasing demand for software development performance in the Volkswagen Group.”
A Strategic Partnership for Future-Ready IT Systems
The Volkswagen Group’s digitalisation strategy revolves around building cutting-edge, cross-brand IT systems that enhance operational efficiency and product innovation. MARV1N plays a pivotal role in this strategy by ensuring dedicated software expertise remains within the Volkswagen ecosystem. The unit’s specialists will work intensively on Volkswagen’s core IT projects, fostering deep knowledge retention and long-term stability within the company’s digital framework.
François Boulanger, CGI President and CEO, emphasised the significance of this partnership: “Through this strategic partnership, we will further deepen our strong relationship with Volkswagen as we collaborate to accelerate Volkswagen Group’s business outcomes in line with their digitalisation vision and strategy. Our architects, developers, and consultants will deliver services and solutions grounded in both technology expertise and knowledge of manufacturing business processes. We look forward to bringing CGI’s proven best practices, global capabilities, and technology innovation to this new joint initiative.”
Advancing Data-Driven Development
Initially, MARV1N will prioritise projects in Volkswagen’s Technical Development sector, a critical area for the Group’s ongoing digital transformation. A key focus will be enhancing data-driven function development for new vehicle projects, ensuring Volkswagen’s software architecture remains at the forefront of industry innovation.
One of the major undertakings of MARV1N is the development of a new cross-company IT system designed to consolidate data related to electrical/electronic architecture and software functions. This system will span the entire lifecycle—from pre-series development to aftersales service—creating a streamlined, centralised approach to data management. By integrating this system into Volkswagen’s operations, the company anticipates faster development times for software updates and new digital products, such as Functions on Demand, ultimately enhancing the customer experience.
A Future Built on Digital Innovation
By deepening its collaboration with CGI and launching MARV1N, the Volkswagen Group reinforces its commitment to digitalisation as a fundamental pillar of its corporate strategy. The initiative not only accelerates IT system development but also ensures Volkswagen remains a leader in software-driven automotive innovation. With MARV1N at the forefront, Volkswagen is well-positioned to meet the demands of an increasingly digital and connected automotive landscape, delivering next-generation mobility solutions faster and more efficiently than ever before.
