Photo: Are Digital Twins Transforming Automotive? - NXP
What is a Digital Twin?
A digital twin is a virtual copy of a physical system that is continuously fed with real-time data. Through the use of sensors, AI, and machine learning, manufacturers, logistics partners, and governments can predict behavior, optimize processes, and reduce risks even before they occur in the real world.
In the automotive industry, this can mean, for example:
- A virtual car that monitors its own wear and performance.
- A virtual factory where production lines are optimized without downtime.
- A virtual road network where traffic flows and vehicle behavior are simulated to prevent accidents.
Safety as the Common Thread: On the Road to Zero Traffic Fatalities
RAI Automotive Industry NL’s mission is clear: zero traffic fatalities.
Digital twins play a direct role in achieving this goal. By combining data from vehicles, infrastructure, and traffic management systems, potential dangers can be predicted and prevented.
Think of vehicles using their digital replica to simulate an emergency stop before the driver reacts, or smart intersections that predict when a pedestrian might go unnoticed. With these capabilities, safety moves from reactive to predictive.
“The power of digital twins lies in their ability to understand the root causes of risks before they occur. They not only make mobility smarter but, above all, safer,” says Jean Pierre Heijster, Program Manager Manufacturing & Materials at RAI Automotive Industry NL.
Impact on Logistics: Predictability as a Competitive Edge
Digital twins have also become indispensable in logistics and supply chain management.
They make it possible to monitor and optimize transport flows, vehicle maintenance, and charging infrastructure in real time. This enables manufacturers and logistics providers to align production and transport perfectly, which is a crucial advantage in times of global disruptions and tight margins.
A virtual logistics chain enables companies to:
- Identify capacity bottlenecks early.
- Predict maintenance needs based on usage data.
- Simulate and reduce CO₂ emissions and energy consumption.
- Strategically plan the use of autonomous or electric vehicles.
The link between digital twins and logistics planning not only increases efficiency but also contributes to sustainability and road safety, the core of RAI Automotive Industry NL’s mission.
Dutch Expertise: Members Leading the Way
Within RAI Automotive Industry NL’s network, several members are actively developing or implementing digital twin solutions. Examples include:
- Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence – providing solutions for virtual factory simulations, measurement data integration, and production process digital twins.
- ICT Group (Automotive) – developing digital twins for vehicle systems and infrastructure, including smart mobility and transport projects.
- TNO Traffic & Transport – using digital twins for traffic simulations and vehicle safety, in collaboration with governments and OEMs.
- VDL ETS – applying digital twins in the development of electric vehicles and energy management in test environments.
- TomTom Automotive – enriching digital road models with real-time traffic data, forming an essential foundation for reliable mobility simulations.
- Denso International Europe – working on predictive maintenance and component-level digital twins for production and vehicle safety.
Together with these and other members, RAI Automotive Industry NL is building an ecosystem where data, digitalization, and safety go hand in hand.
The Future is Predictable and That’s Good News
The strength of digital twins lies in their ability to predict, test, and improve the future before it becomes reality. From the factory to the highway, and from the logistics hub to the driver, this technology is expanding its influence across the entire mobility chain.
RAI Automotive Industry NL continues to foster knowledge exchange, collaboration, and innovation to fully leverage the potential of digital twins. Only together can we take the next step toward an efficient, sustainable, and above all, safe mobility ecosystem.
