Automotive industry pushes software development on an open-source basis

Partnership Automotive Industry Pushes Software Development on an Open-Source Basis

2025-07-04 From Stefanie Eckhardt | Translated by AI 1 min Reading Time

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Hella Distribution GmbH

Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH

ZF Friedrichshafen AG Friedrichshafen

Mercedes-Benz Group AG

ETAS GmbH

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More speed, efficiency, and safety in software development based on open-source—this has been agreed upon by BMW, Continental, the Eclipse Foundation, ETAS, Hella, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche Qorix, Bosch, Valeo, and ZF. With the support of the VDA, the companies have decided on a pre-competitive collaboration.

Eleven companies from the automotive industry have signed a memorandum of understanding for joint software development based on open-source.(Image: VDA) — Eleven companies from the automotive industry have signed a memorandum of understanding for joint software development based on open-source.
(Image: VDA)

With the increasing importance and growing complexity of software in vehicles, it is becoming critical for the industry to enhance speed and efficiency in development while ensuring high quality and safety. A significant portion of vehicle software is not directly perceivable by the user and therefore not differentiating. This fact makes it possible to develop the corresponding software components collaboratively in an open ecosystem.

To achieve the necessary functional safety for automotive series software, a groundbreaking development process for open source has been developed to prepare for certification according to relevant standards. Additionally, by providing executable software components instead of detailed specifications, standardization and an increase in development speed are achieved through the so-called code-first approach.

Project S-Core: Independent Ecosystem

The software development takes place in a transparent and manufacturer-independent environment of the Eclipse Foundation within the framework of the S-Core project. This ecosystem is open—both through the interoperability of the software with relevant industry standards and for contributions and collaboration from other European and international companies. The initiative's timeline envisions that by 2026, the software scope for the series development of a platform for automated driving will be available.

The modular software scope can be adapted or supplemented and subsequently made available to the industry as a custom distribution for series development. This allows manufacturers and suppliers to focus on differentiating functions while fundamental components are maintained collaboratively. This creates a strong foundation for innovation—and the freedom to focus on what makes the difference for the end user. (se)

By releasing the Eclipse Connected Services Platform (ECSP) as an open-source project, Harman is taking a step that is already standard in the cloud world but seems revolutionary in the conservative automotive industry: the complete opening of a production-ready connectivity platform for the developer community. (Image:Harman)

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Date: 08.12.2025

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