New Eclipse SDV Working Group Unites Automotive and IT for Software‑Defined Vehicles

The ever‑growing complexity of vehicle software—rising from 10,000 lines in 2010 to an astonishing 100 million today—demands a fresh approach. Modern vehicles are no longer isolated hardware islands; they are dynamic, cloud‑connected ecosystems that require continuous software updates to deliver comfort, safety, and performance throughout their lifespan. The future of automotive revenue hinges on effective software maintenance and digital services, making collaboration between the automotive and IT sectors essential.

Bridging the Automotive‑IT Divide

While mechanical complexity has plateaued, the integration of sophisticated software components into high‑performance central vehicle computers has surged. The addition of Internet connectivity amplifies the need for a unified perspective on automotive software. Delivering cutting‑edge features faster than ever demands more than isolated expertise; it requires open collaboration across borders, companies, and disciplines.

Enter the new open‑source working group, co‑founded by Bosch, the Eclipse Foundation, and other industry leaders. This initiative brings together seasoned professionals from both sectors to co‑create an open‑source in‑vehicle application runtime stack. As Sven Kappel, Bosch’s Vice President and head of the software‑defined vehicle (SDV) project, explains, “Technological, organizational, and cultural innovations pave the way for the SDV. Open‑source software and technological neutrality are the pillars that empower a strong community to shape the future of automotive software engineering alongside our customers and partners.”

Knowledge Sharing for Tomorrow’s Development

Bosch has long championed openness, contributing to projects such as the Common Vehicle Interface Initiative (CVII), Eclipse Kuksa, and OpenADx. The latest contribution, Eclipse Kanto, builds the vehicle edge by unifying AIoT capabilities—cloud connectivity, digital twins, container management, and OTA updates—into a single modular IoT edge platform. Based on Bosch’s field‑tested software, Kanto enables containerized applications to run locally, process data on‑board, or forward it to the cloud, all while being managed remotely via any preferred cloud backend. It seamlessly integrates with existing open‑source ecosystems and modern development toolchains, and is fine‑tuned for in‑vehicle hardware in the QM domain. By championing open‑source principles, Kanto brings cloud‑native technologies to lightweight edge devices, tackling the escalating complexity of edge hardware and software.

The SDV working group shares a similar mission: to scale in‑vehicle software across models, brands, and product generations. The effort is deliberately open—additional contributors from established OEMs to emerging software‑centric enterprises are encouraged to help build a robust, diverse community.

To understand the rationale behind this open‑source initiative, read our in‑depth article: Why we need an open source initiative for software‑defined vehicles.