The BMW Group has joined the Eclipse Foundation’s Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) Working Group as a strategic member. This initiative facilitates global collaboration on open-source software technologies for modern vehicles. The BMW Group brings over 20 years of experience in in-house software development to the initiative.
They have set industry benchmarks in areas such as digital vehicle access via smart devices, over-the-air upgrades across all functional domains and powertrains, and vehicle backend structures. Modern vehicles can contain hundreds of millions of lines of software code. This scope continues to grow rapidly.
Many manufacturers work with suppliers to develop proprietary software packages for basic functions. According to the Eclipse Foundation, mainstream operating systems like Linux, Windows, and macOS collectively use more code than vehicles from any two automakers. This highlights potential overlaps in basic software functionality even within the automotive industry.
Frank Weber, a member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development, emphasized the importance of cooperation in this field. He noted that software development is a non-competitive area where all industry players can benefit from collaboration. The Eclipse SDV Working Group supports an open-source model of software development.
BMW Vice President Christian Salzmann sees this as a valuable approach. Mike Milinkovich, executive director of the Eclipse Foundation, welcomed BMW to the group.
Bmw’s strategic open-source collaboration
He highlighted their role in driving transformative changes in vehicle design. As a strategic member, BMW will help guide the direction of the working group and lead multiple projects. This continues BMW’s long-standing involvement with the Eclipse Foundation.
BMW will also maintain its contributions to the AUTOSAR (Automotive Open System Architecture). This ensures continued advancement in electrical electronics (E/E) architecture standards. Salzmann regards the Eclipse activities as a complementary effort to AUTOSAR, not a substitute.
The Eclipse SDV Working Group comprises over 50 members. These include major automotive manufacturers, global cloud providers, and technology leaders. Its objective is to develop and promote open-source software solutions for the global automotive industry.
It aims to create the industry’s first open-source software stacks and associated tools for future vehicle generations. BMW’s development division, particularly its Software Factory, will be actively involved in various Eclipse SDV projects. They will collaborate closely with partners to develop software for series projects.
BMW employees will also participate in SDV Hackathons and Community Days to foster close cooperation with experts from other member companies. As an influential player in the automotive industry, BMW’s strategic partnership with the Eclipse Foundation underscores the importance of open-source collaboration. It aims to drive innovation and set new standards in vehicle software development.
