Piëch and Incari aim to set standards for User Experience

In just six months, Incari developed the digital cockpit and the entire HMI for the Piëch GT – now, the interior of the ready-to-drive Piëch-GT prototype, which is set to go into series production in 2024, has been showcased for the first time. According to Incari, designers and developers worked together from the very beginning. This eliminated the often time- and cost-intensive adjustments due to recognized infeasibilities.

Interesting point: Incari's software also follows a 3D-first approach, which is supposed to offer completely new possibilities in ease of use – especially in connection with Augmented Reality (AR). Therefore, Incari also promises a reduction in development times in the HMI sector by up to 70 percent, while simultaneously involving less personnel and achieving higher quality. Toni Piëch, Co-Founder and CEO of Piëch Automotive, explains:

“User experience is a key factor for the success of our vehicle. From a business perspective, however, I would also like to highlight the revolutionary nature of our efficient and high-performance development concept. Through our partnership with Incari, we achieved what most – particularly the very large and established – manufacturers have failed at so far: a smart, software-based collaboration between designers and engineers at very early stages.”

For the HMI development of the Piëch GT, the Berlin tech company Incari used its self-developed solution “Incari Studio.” This is a software platform with an intuitive visual interface, which enables the design of complex interfaces in 3D without programming knowledge. Additionally, Incari offers a common software environment for developers and designers already in the prototyping phase. This brings flexibility and saves time. Osman Dumbuya, Founder and CEO of Incari, proudly explains:

“The digital cockpit of the Piëch GT is impressive in every respect and sets a new benchmark in the industry. But we are equally proud of the process: the extremely fast, lean, and efficient development of the entire HMI system confirmed all the advantages of our software solution.”

According to Dumbuya, the design change of just a single element using traditional development methods takes up to 14 days and a five-figure sum – with Incari Studio, such a change can be made within minutes. He calculates:

“Development like the HMI for the Piëch GT would have tied up about ten experts from various fields over twelve months without the use of Incari Studio. With our software, the Piëch GT project was completed by three creatives in just six months.”

Flexible and modular vehicle architecture for three body variants

The prototype of the two-door GT is just the precursor of an entire product family, which will be expanded to include an SUV and a sedan. Rea Stark Rajcic, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Piëch Automotive, explains with an eye on the future of the young Swiss company:

“Our modular concept not only allows us freedom in design to create the most attractive vehicles possible, but all body shapes are also possible. We initially focused on the two-seater sports car Piëch GT. The necessary volume will then be provided by the sporty Piëch SUV, before the four-seater Piëch Sports Sedan rounds out our product range.”

The fuel cell is not off the table

They are flexible not only in terms of design and body forms but also regarding the powertrain, where they want to keep all options open: “We are starting with electric vehicles, but if the hydrogen drive and fuel cell achieve a breakthrough, we can react flexibly thanks to our modular vehicle architecture,” emphasizes Toni Piëch, who is pleased:

“Despite all global circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic and supply shortages, we are fully on course towards market launch. The first drivable prototype is an extremely important milestone and shows that we can successfully bring our vision to the street with the Piëch GT and set new standards—with both the design and functionality of the vehicle itself and the interior.”

Piëch USP: 80 percent charge in less than five minutes

In the first testing phase, the technical concept has been confirmed according to Piëch: The Piëch GT offers a range of 500 kilometers according to WLTP and is expected to be charged to 80 percent in eight minutes at any CCS2 fast-charging station thanks to the latest battery technology - with a specially developed fast charger even in less than five minutes. Additionally, the Piëch GT accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in less than three seconds.

What does that mean?

The presentation was a breakthrough for the start-up. Some founding fathers had already left Piëch. Among them Matthias Müller, former VW CEO and previously Porsche boss - Chairman of the Supervisory Board at the company. According to "Business Insider," there were different opinions on the corporate and economic orientation. According to the business magazine, there were differences with co-founder Rea Stark Rajcic, who made an offer for Lamborghini with his Quantum Group in May 2021 amounting to 9.5 billion euros—although the VW Group did not want to sell the brand. Besides Müller, Piëch also enlisted Andreas Henke, who also resigned from his positions as Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer. Henke shared the CEO position with Klaus Schmidt, who had previously worked as Chief Technology Officer for Piëch. Currently, Schmidt and Toni Piëch are listed as responsible in the imprint, and Rajcic has retreated to the position of "Creative Director." Sales activities are to be led by Jochen Rudat, who was once active as Head of Sales for Europe at Tesla. Perhaps that is why there was some pressure that was released with the drivable prototype. They are now planning concretely for 2024. Incari also contributed to this: Founded in April 2021 by Osman Dumbuya and Alexander Grasse, the company emerged from CGI Studios, is based in Berlin, and has offices in France and Poland. Currently, about 50 people work for the start-up.