Where conventional cars from VW and other brands frequently have dozens of separate control systems each with their own vendor-specific software, vw.OS would boil things down to just a few systems running on one common platform. This not only promises to greatly streamline self-driving technology, but promises "continuous updates and upgrades." If it sounds familiar, it should -- Tesla already uses a custom platform to both add features and change the performance of its cars.

You'll first see vw.OS in the I.D. series of electric cars in 2020, right at the same time as VW plans to connect its whole lineup. It'll also establish a "One Digital Platform" cloud framework that will power the entire Volkswagen Auto Group. It will take several years, but VW is determined to leave its traditional, scandal-ridden past in the dust and become a technological vanguard.