The automotive sector is facing major challenges and changes. Regarding driving functions, the proportion of software and electronic hardware is increasing sharply. This problem is difficult to address with established development methods. On the other hand, development of these highly connected systems takes longer and longer. Meanwhile, the rapid reaction to bugs is expected.

Due to these changing conditions, manufacturers are forced to apply more efficient and flexible development processes in order to meet the challenges of the market. In the context of software development, the agile development approach has proven itself for decades. In terms of CI/CD, software parts are continuously developed and automatically tested. The version management for files, the automated construction of test scenarios and the continuous, automated test execution lead to constantly consistent states of development. This way of working enables flexibly adjusted objectives, reduced development risks and further the transparent, secure and accelerated software development.

Based on the knowledge and experience gained, new practical approaches for the agile development of mechatronic systems are to be developed. In this context, distributed testing process is implemented as co-simulation, where the co-simulation itself and the sub-systems being created and configured automatically as for CI / CD. Furthermore, a demonstrator is set up to continuously evaluate developed concepts and prototypes. It focuses on cross-departmental and cross-group agile development processes and methods and tools that enables rapid and proper reaction of changing requirements and reduced development period without reducing the quality of the functions.