Keep drivers' eyes on the road and hands on the wheel with natural voice commands that work in high-noise, high-vibration automotive environments
Production customer story
Following rigorous technical benchmarking, Volkswagen selected DaVoice for the wake-word layer that starts the OTTO voice experience. DaVoice listens for the branded activation phrase and wakes the assistant quickly and reliably inside the vehicle. OTTO then handles the broader generative-AI conversation and connected-car services.
DaVoice provides OTTO's wake word activation technology: the always-ready first step that detects the call to OTTO. Volkswagen and its project partners built the assistant's personality, vehicle-data integrations, generative-AI responses, and wider customer experience. This distinction keeps the customer story precise and verifiable.
Volkswagen introduced OTTO with the Tera as the first generative automotive AI developed by an automaker in Brazil. It responds by voice or text and connects vehicle information with navigation, media, weather, and open questions.
Read Volkswagen's launch announcement →After its Brazilian debut, Volkswagen publicly discussed expanding OTTO across its model lineup. Volkswagen now promotes access through VW Otto Club for eligible connected vehicles, showing a path from launch feature to broader product capability.
Read about Volkswagen's expansion plans →OTTO has grown into a recognizable Volkswagen character. The official Volkswagen Collection lists OTTO-branded products including a plush toy, beanie, socks, and shirts—an unusual extension of an in-car AI identity into brand culture.
Visit Volkswagen's OTTO collection →These public demonstrations show the customer experience around OTTO and the wake-word activation that lets a driver begin hands-free interaction.
Customer demo
Watch a real automotive assistant flow using DaVoice for voice activation.
Watch on YouTube →
Official @vwbrasil ReelOfficial Volkswagen do Brasil Reel
Volkswagen do Brasil's verified account shows OTTO guiding a drive and choosing the soundtrack—evidence of how Volkswagen presents the assistant to customers, beyond a technical product demonstration.
Open the Reel on Instagram →In an interview about OTTO, Volkswagen Brazil and South America CIO Cristina Cestari describes a culturally Brazilian assistant with its own personality, natural-language interaction, continuous learning, personalization, and connections across the Volkswagen ecosystem. That vision makes dependable wake-word activation especially important: every voice journey begins with the assistant recognizing that it has been called.
Automotive environments present unique challenges: high ambient noise (engine, road, wind), vibrations, varying speaker positions, and the critical safety requirement that drivers never take their eyes off the road or hands off the wheel.
Hands-free voice control is essential for driver safety. NHTSA guidelines recommend minimizing manual interactions while driving. Voice commands keep eyes on road and hands on wheel.
Vehicles generate 60-80dB of ambient noise from engines, road surfaces, and wind. DaVoice maintains 96%+ accuracy even at highway speeds with windows down.
Drivers need immediate feedback. DaVoice delivers <100ms latency for wake word detection, enabling natural conversation-like interactions without frustrating delays.
Drivers control navigation systems, set destinations, and adjust routes without taking their eyes off the road or touching the screen.
Drivers and passengers adjust temperature, fan speed, seat heating, and ventilation without reaching for physical controls.
Control music, podcasts, audiobooks, and radio without taking hands off the wheel during highway driving.
Make calls, send texts, and check messages completely hands-free for legal compliance and safety.
Adjust lighting, locks, mirrors, suspension, and driving modes without navigating through complex menu systems.
Engines, road noise, wind, and passenger conversation create challenging acoustic environments.
Drivers and passengers speak from different positions with varying distances from microphones.
Bumps, acceleration, and turning introduce vibrations that affect microphone capture quality.
Leading automotive manufacturers use branded wake words to strengthen brand identity and create memorable user experiences.
Mercedes-Benz MBUX system uses branded wake word for premium brand experience across all vehicle lines.
BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant responds to brand-specific wake word, reinforcing luxury positioning.
Tesla vehicles use brand wake word for navigation, climate, media control throughout ownership experience.
DaVoice provides custom wake word training for automotive OEMs with 1-2 week turnaround. Models optimized specifically for in-vehicle acoustic environments.
Request Custom Wake Word for Your Brand →96-98% accuracy at highway speeds (70mph) with windows down. Trained specifically on automotive noise profiles (engine, road, wind, HVAC).
<100ms wake word detection enables natural conversation. No frustrating delays between command and system response.
Runs on automotive-grade processors (NXP, Qualcomm Snapdragon Auto). Low power consumption (critical for electric vehicles). Temperature-resistant (-40°C to 85°C).
40+ languages for global vehicle markets. Single wake word model supports multiple languages (code-switching capable for bilingual drivers).
100% on-device processing. No audio data sent to cloud. Meets automotive cybersecurity standards (ISO 21434). GDPR/CCPA compliant.
Automotive-grade SDK with AUTOSAR compatibility. Reference implementations for major infotainment platforms. Tier 1 supplier partnerships available.
Join leading automotive manufacturers building safer, more intuitive driving experiences with DaVoice wake word detection.
Automotive-Grade Quality • 96-98% Accuracy in Noise • Custom Brand Wake Words • ISO 21434 Compliant