MWC19: SEAT partners with IBM to 'revolutionise urban mobility' with artificial intelligence

SEAT — a member of the Volkswagen Group and one of Europe’s biggest car manufacturers — has partnered with IBM to develop a new urban mobility solution based on artificial intelligence.

Using IBM’s Watson Artificial Intelligence (AI) system, the companies have created a new mobile app called Mobility Adviser which informs users of the best way to use multimodal transport systems.

Designed to run on 4G/5G networks, Mobility Advisor’ uses a “conversational interface” to plan optimal routes.

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Connected to the IBM Cloud, the app learns users preferences and adapts to changing conditions such as weather forecasts, traffic reports and city events. 

"With the roll-out of 5G networks in cities in the coming years, the possibilities for transforming the driver experience are limitless," said Juan Ramon Gutierrez Villar, Industry Solutions Leader, IBM Global Markets.

"At IBM, we are working with telecommunications companies and innovative manufacturers like SEAT to provide the open technologies which they need to deliver on this vision and create highly contextualized and personalized user experiences that work at lightning speed across multiple clouds and IT platforms."

The announcement comes after SEAT presented its concept car, Minimó, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.

The all-electric quadricycle promises to “revolutionise urban mobility”, claiming to be the first purpose design vehicle for shared mobility.

"Traffic congestion and environmental challenges are putting huge pressure on cities to transform," said Jordi Caus, SEAT's Head of New Urban Mobility Concepts.

"At SEAT we are leading the way by working with innovative cities and technology companies to come up with solutions to make mobility easier and more efficient.

“With its advanced cloud and AI technologies, IBM is helping us to innovate new approaches to mobility that will transform our business strategy while improving the lives of people living in urban areas."