German car manufacturers form an alliance for innovative software development!

German car manufacturers form an alliance for innovative software development!

In a remarkable move, the three major German car manufacturers Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have joined forces to join forces in software development and fight against the all-powerful tech giants like Google. This comes from a report by Mercury out. In the digital age, modern vehicles have long become more than just a means of transportation. They have developed into complex computers with their own operating systems in which software is essential for infotainment, security systems and autonomous driving.

At the recently held 29th International Automotive Electronics Congress in Ludwigsburg, which is known for its importance in the industry, eleven well-known companies, including suppliers such as Bosch and Continental, agreed on pre-competitive cooperation in software development. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed to create a common software base, expected to be available in 2026. This information comes from VDA.

An open ecosystem for everyone

The initiative aims to increase the speed and efficiency of software development while ensuring quality and security. A large part of the vehicle software is often not directly tangible to users, which enables joint development within an open ecosystem. This was said by the VDA managing director Dr. Marcus Bollig, who sees the creation of a powerful software ecosystem as crucial for the future of the industry.

The principles that the car manufacturers follow are based on an open source model, which means that the source code is publicly visible - even for competitors. This transparency is intended to help standardize non-differentiating software components. This allows members to concentrate on their individualized functions while basic software parts are further developed together. It is expected that other European and international manufacturers will also join in.

Problems in the software landscape

The need for this initiative becomes particularly clear when considering the current challenges facing German manufacturers. For example, VW subsidiary Cariad struggled with significant software problems, which resulted in electric cars from Porsche and Audi being delayed by up to three years. In order to avoid such bottlenecks and to continue to compete in global competition, cooperation in this area is essential. provides information about this Electrive.

The new initiative is being implemented under the S-CORE project in collaboration with the Eclipse Foundation. The aim is to create an interoperable software landscape that is compatible with existing standards such as AUTOSAR. The roadmap envisages that the first series vehicle with a fully integrated open source software stack will come onto the market by 2030.

The alliance between VW, BMW and Mercedes is not only a step into a new software future, but also a statement against the dominance of the big tech companies. Gaining a foothold in the digital age also means doing your own homework and placing emphasis on collaboration - especially in a market as dynamic and competitive as the automotive industry.