BMW Group becomes strategic member of the Eclipse Foundation Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) Working Group

The BMW Group has joined the Eclipse Foundation’s Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) Working Group as a strategic member. The Eclipse SDV Working Group facilitates global collaboration on open-source software technologies for use in modern vehicles.

“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,” said Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development.

The entire system of modern vehicles can contain hundreds of millions of lines of software code. The scope continues to grow rapidly, and many manufacturers are working with suppliers to develop their own software packages for basic functions. According to the Eclipse Foundation, mainstream operating system installations of Linux, Windows, and macOS are estimated to use much more code between each other than vehicles from any two OEMs. Even in the automotive industry, there is a great deal of potential overlap for basic software functionality.

“The Eclipse SDV Working Group has quickly become the ‘centre of gravity’ for open-source software development in the global automotive industry,” said Mike Milinkovich, executive director of the Eclipse Foundation. “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.”

What is the Eclipse SDV Working Group?
Eclipse SDV, a working group within the Eclipse Foundation, supports the open-source development of automotive software. With over 50 members, including major automotive manufacturers, global cloud providers, technology leaders, electronics companies, and supply chain partners, the initiative has garnered significant industry support. The working group’s objective is to provide a forum for developing and promoting open-source solutions for the global automotive industry. SDV projects adopt a “code first” approach, focusing on building the industry’s first open-source software stacks and associated tools for the core functions of future vehicle generations.

The SDV Working Group is designed as a vendor-neutral, member-led organisation. The working group provides a governance framework for open-source IP management and collaboration. This includes a steering committee that defines and manages the strategy and technical roadmap of the working group. A technical advisory board recommends which Eclipse Foundation open-source projects should be included within the scope of the working group.