Microsoft is the new copilot of Siemens VDO Automotive AG, as the two companies published a joint announcement revealing a partnership focused on designing solutions complete with in-vehicle communication, information, entertainment and navigation capabilities. According to the Redmond company, its software technology will be at the core of the Siemens VDO products and the first item will go into production in just two years. Siemens VDO initially plans to develop a multimedia platform on top of Microsoft Auto, and 2009 will be the year when the product will begin being integrated into vehicles.

"We are pleased that Siemens VDO has chosen Microsoft as their software partner," said Martin Thall, general manager of the Automotive Business Unit at Microsoft. "The extremely flexible and modular nature of the Microsoft Auto platform makes it perfectly suited to provide a range of innovative infotainment solutions that transform the driving experience by connecting drivers seamlessly to the people, information and entertainment they care about while they are on the road."

Neither Microsoft nor Siemens VDO offered specific details on the products planned for 2009. The Redmond company only specified that its Auto platform in-car software technology will act as the backbone of the Siemens VDO's infotainment system. Essentially the products will deliver navigation and multimedia capabilities bundled with data serving and entertainment functionality. Microsoft offered a small insight revealing that the solutions will be divided into three main categories: navigation-based, high-end multimedia units and interfaces that will enable the seamless integration of various devices.

"Thanks to this cooperative project with Microsoft, we will be able to incorporate the rapidly changing trends in consumer electronics into the world of automotive electronics in an ideal way," said Helmut Matschi, member of the board of Siemens VDO. "Working together, we will make both current and future multimedia and infotainment solutions, some of which are still under development, available to current vehicle generations."