Inclusive Mobility is an initiative to directly engage disability groups in the early stages of designing vehicle software, technologies and services.

In an era of rapidly changing technology, there’s an unprecedented opportunity to redesign how we get around. We are committed to helping build new solutions for people who experience limited mobility options and in-car experiences.

Our current focus is on helping design accessible solutions for people with disabilities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly one in five people have a disability in the U.S., 
a large underserved segment of the population.

We started the Inclusive Mobility Initiative in 2018 as part of Volkswagen Group of America. With the support of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, our first project was to work on wheelchair accessibility and independent wheelchair securement for a future vehicle platform. We worked closely with disability partners including DREDF and We Will Ride, government agencies, Auto Innovators, and standards bodies. This work is continuing through VWGoA’s Autonomous Driving Mobility and Transport ADMT unit

Now at CARIAD, Inc., we are leading this program and bringing it into the software space. Currently, we are working on accessible in-car infotainment features for drivers and passengers of Volkswagen Group’s brand vehicles.

We will be releasing two downloadable in-car accessibility apps, an in-car screenreader and an extended voice access service, on our Android-infotainment systems starting later this year. These features will first appear in the Porsche Macan Electric and Audi Q6 e-tron, and rolled out to additional vehicles soon after.