Dear Reader,

In an article published in the Handelsblatt newspaper dated August 18, 2022, Christoph Hartung (Etas), Heiko Huettel (Microsoft) and Joachim Schü (Consileon) again raised the question whether a joint operating system for the (German) automotive OEMs would not make more sense than each OEM developing their own and having to employ thousands of software developers, if they were able to even find them.

This question was hotly debated in 2021 at the IAA Mobility, and BMW boss Oliver Zipse in particular was a dedicated advocate of this mutual approach. In the end, the majority was against it. One assumes that the prevailing opinion was that each company had already progressed too far: For example, Volkswagen represented by Dirk Hilgenberg, Head of VW's software company Cariad, commented that the time for a discussion whether BMW could adopt their operating system would be ripe in two years.

The comments surrounding the "software-driven" departure of Herbert Diess over the matter of "Cariad is having a bumpy ride" or even "now more developers are to fix it" makes one doubt whether the approach itself or the claim behind Hilgenberg's statement was the silver bullet. The statements regarding further partners and external developer pools resurface time and again. This doesn't just affect VW of course, but everyone.

So what can be done in the case of a solitary or shared platform? The internet is full of comments such as "what exactly do they want, Apple and Android OS are already available, just use an operating system from this supplier's corner." Why not? Because a vehicle is a highly developed piece of technology. At the end of the day, non-critical applications such as infotainment must be implemented alongside highly critical functions up to (partially) automated driving. An industrial robot is also run with an RTOS and not an operating system from the consumer industry.

In the end, a simple addition of cost plus available developers with automotive expertise indicates that a common platform would make sense. It represents lower costs per vehicle, more favorable development costs for Tier 1 suppliers, and finally a more sensible use of available expertise. No manufacturer has an advantage in having the "best" proprietary operating system (and having to maintain it!) and to bind a large amount of developers. Remember Beta: In the end, the system with the best content won, VHS. And this content also has to be developed.

Enjoy reading this edition.

Robert Unseld

Responsible Editor

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