German automotive industry goes to war with Google and Apple

“The automotive industry is entering a new era. Eleven leading companies have signed a groundbreaking memorandum of understanding to jointly develop open source software. The main goal is to reduce dependence on technology giants such as Google and Apple.

 

Software is no longer just the operating system of a car, but its heart. This does not only concern applications and infotainment systems, but above all the elements invisible to the driver - such as controlling vehicle functions or safety systems. The German automotive industry wants to break free from the dominance of companies such as Google and Apple and jointly develop a new type of software. The goal is to create functional modules that will not only accelerate development, but also support the standardization process.

 

Especially today, when the complexity of software in cars is growing exponentially, such a step can be a decisive competitive advantage. The cooperation under the auspices of the Eclipse Foundation and the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) aims to create an open and transparent ecosystem. The Eclipse Foundation is a Belgian non-profit organization that supports the development of open source projects. In this model, all stakeholders - from manufacturers, through suppliers, to developers - have access to one common platform and can combine their resources.

 

Google and Apple see huge profit potential in the automotive industry. While Google has already entered the market with Android Automotive [1], Apple is developing the CarPlay [2] system and gradually aims to take control of more and more vehicle functions.

 

Software standardization will help reduce the costs of development, e.g. autonomous driving

 

Car manufacturers do not want to give up full control of software to technological giants. The new software is to have a modular structure, enabling easy adaptation and expansion of individual components depending on the needs of specific brands. Joint development of the system will allow for faster development of the whole and more efficient implementation of innovations.

 

Standardization will be particularly important in the context of autonomous driving, for which software is the basis.

 

This approach will not only help the industry stay competitive with the tech giants, but will also lay the foundation for a new era of automotive innovation. With a clear commitment to open standards and transparent development, automotive companies can take control of the future of software, avoiding lock-in to external suppliers.”

 

1. Android Automotive is open source. It is a full-stack, highly customizable platform that is part of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). This means that the source code is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. While Google also provides Google Automotive Services (GAS) for integration into in-vehicle infotainment systems, the core Android Automotive OS (AAOS) is open source. Automakers can choose to use AAOS with or without GAS.

Key points about Android Automotive's open-source nature:

 

    Full-stack platform:

    Android Automotive is not just an interface; it's a complete operating system that runs directly on the vehicle's hardware.

 

Highly customizable:

Because it's open source, automakers can heavily customize the user interface and other aspects of the system to match their brand and specific needs.

AOSP:

Android Automotive is part of the broader Android Open Source Project (AOSP).

Optional GAS integration:

While Google offers GAS (a collection of apps and services like Google Maps and Assistant), it's not mandatory. Automakers can choose to use just the open-source AAOS and integrate their own services.

 

2. Apple CarPlay is not open source. Access to the CarPlay API requires enrollment in Apple's MFi Program, which is a licensing program for developers of hardware and software, primarily for manufacturers. The program provides access to the necessary tools, documentation, and license to integrate CarPlay into their products.

While the official CarPlay API is not open source, there are open-source projects that aim to provide similar functionality or allow running CarPlay on platforms like Raspberry Pi. These projects often involve reverse-engineering or using the CarPlay protocol in creative ways.

For example, React Carplay is an open-source project that allows users to run a CarPlay-like interface on a Raspberry Pi.

 

Additionally, OkcarOS is an open-source Android-based system for in-car infotainment systems that can be customized and built from source.

Therefore, while the official CarPlay implementation is not open source, there are open-source projects and initiatives that offer similar functionality or allow for experimentation with CarPlay-like interfaces on different platforms.