# How to integrate with real cars -- minimizing lead time at Volkswagen

**Authors:** Jan Kantert, Michael Nolting  
**arXiv:** [2103.05537](https://arxiv.org/abs/2103.05537)  
**Date:** 2021-03-09  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/arxiv-id/2103.05537v1/

## Key points

- Traditional car manufacturers face challenges in adapting to fast-paced software development practices of successful tech companies
- Agile approach of releasing new software versions multiple times a day leads to short development cycles, minimal lead times, and strong focus on customer needs
- Integrating with real cars in brown field environments involves interfacing with legacy systems with lengthy development cycles
- Volkswagen successfully implemented a solution leveraging core development teams, dynamic stages, and feature toggles to overcome constraints of brown field environment
- By adopting these strategies, Volkswagen achieved shorter development cycles and minimized lead times while integrating new software features with existing legacy systems

## Summary

In their paper titled "How to integrate with real cars -- minimizing lead time at Volkswagen," authors Jan Kantert and Michael Nolting discuss the challenges faced by traditional car manufacturers in adapting to the fast-paced software development practices of successful tech companies. These companies release new software versions multiple times a day, allowing for quick bug fixes and delivery of new features to customers. This agile approach results in short development cycles, minimal lead times, and a strong focus on customer needs. However, implementing such rapid development cycles is not straightforward for companies operating in brown field environments like traditional car manufacturers. Integrating with real cars requires interfacing with legacy systems that often have lengthy development cycles lasting several months. To address this challenge, the authors present a solution successfully implemented at Volkswagen - one of the world's largest car manufacturers. The solution leverages in-house core development teams, dynamic stages, and feature toggles to overcome the constraints of a brown field environment. By adopting these strategies, Volkswagen was able to achieve shorter development cycles and minimize lead times while integrating new software features with existing legacy systems. This case study highlights the importance of innovation and adaptability in navigating the complexities of modern software development within established corporate structures.