Over thirty companies spanning the automotive supply chain have committed to a collaborative effort to develop open-source software aimed at powering next-generation vehicles and reducing costs, according to Germany’s leading industry association on 7 January.
The German Automotive Industry Association (VDA) revealed the expansion of this initiative during the CES trade fair in Las Vegas, where manufacturers and suppliers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence and software solutions to revitalise a sector hampered by sluggish progress and mounting expenses.
Among the latest signatories to the memorandum of understanding are European automotive group Stellantis, truck manufacturer Traton, German component supplier Schaeffler, and semiconductor firms Infineon and Qualcomm, the VDA confirmed. They join major German carmakers such as Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, boosting the number of participating companies from 11 last year to 32.
The initiative seeks to cut development and maintenance efforts by up to 40 per cent and accelerate time-to-market by as much as 30 per cent, according to the VDA.
“The growing participation in this collaboration reflects a clear global shift towards open innovation in the automotive industry,” remarked Mike Milinkovich, Executive Director of the Eclipse Foundation, a co-organiser of the project.
Staff Writer
Reporting from the front lines of the automotive industry, delivering expert analysis and the technical updates that drive the South African motor sector forward.
