BMW's Approach of Vehicle Functions and Systems Orientation for Developing Innovative Powertrains

The dramatic increase in data and information exchange has lead to increased communication network complexity within the subsystems of the powertrain itself as well as in all other subsystems of the vehicle.

It is essential to manage this complexity during the development process. Applying new processes and methods such as vehicle functions and systems orientation in a top-down structural approach creates a powerful support in development of innovative powertrains.

Several technical integration examples of powertrain functions are illustrated for the purpose of demonstrating customer-related advantages. Vehicle functions and systems orientation also has significant impact on organisational structures and cooperation methods to achieve maximum synergies as well as efficient vehicle communication architectures.