The BMW Group has joined the Eclipse Foundation’s Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) Working Group as a strategic member, aiming to propel the development of open-source software technologies for modern vehicles. This collaboration brings together BMW’s extensive expertise in software development and the Eclipse Foundation’s global platform for fostering open-source solutions.
BMW’s Commitment to Open-Source Collaboration
Frank Weber, a member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development, emphasized BMW’s dedication: “BMW has mastered software from chip to cloud and has done so for generations. The number of digital functions in cars is growing rapidly. All players in our industry can benefit significantly from more cooperation in developing and securing software that does not differentiate from competition. That is why we are contributing our expertise to the Eclipse SDV Working Group.”
The complexity of modern vehicles, which can contain hundreds of millions of lines of software code, necessitates a collaborative approach to streamline and enhance basic software functionalities. BMW’s participation in the SDV Working Group will leverage its substantial in-house software development experience to benefit the broader automotive industry.
Strategic Vision and Industry Impact
Christian Salzmann, Vice President of BMW Group Global Software Strategy and Software Factory, highlighted the potential of open-source collaboration: “We see open-source as an active collaboration model for software development and expect a lot from the joint activities in the Eclipse SDV Working Group. As an active contributor in open-source projects such as ‘Zuul’, we already bring a lot of relevant experience to the table.”
Mike Milinkovich, executive director of the Eclipse Foundation, welcomed BMW’s involvement: “The Eclipse SDV Working Group has quickly become the ‘centre of gravity’ for open-source software development in the global automotive industry. We’re thrilled to have an innovative leader of BMW’s calibre join as a strategic member. Their contributions will play a pivotal role in driving this transformative shift in modern vehicle design.”
Driving Future Vehicle Design
As a strategic member of the SDV Working Group, BMW will play a significant role in guiding the working group’s direction and leading multiple projects. The BMW Group has been an active member of the Eclipse Foundation for over a decade, contributing to initiatives such as openMDM and openPass working groups. In parallel, BMW will continue its involvement in AUTOSAR (Automotive Open System Architecture), enhancing standards for electrical electronics (E/E) architecture alongside other industry leaders.
Eclipse SDV Working Group: A Hub for Open-Source Automotive Software
The Eclipse SDV Working Group supports the open-source development of automotive software, with over 50 members, including major automotive manufacturers, global cloud providers, technology leaders, and supply chain partners. The initiative focuses on creating the industry’s first open-source software stacks and associated tools for core vehicle functions, fostering collaboration and innovation across the automotive sector.
BMW’s Active Participation
BMW Group’s development division, particularly the Software Factory, will actively engage in various projects within the SDV Working Group. This includes participating in SDV Hackathons and Community Days, working closely with experts from other member companies to develop software for series projects.
