Overview

• Eleven companies including BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Porsche, Bosch, Continental and ZF Friedrichshafen signed a memorandum on June 24 to launch the collaborative platform
• The initiative targets non-visible vehicle functions to streamline development and free brands to focus on distinctive features
• The platform’s open-source framework is structured to preempt antitrust concerns and invite participation from additional global automakers
• Developers aim for the software to be ready for series integration of autonomous driving systems by 2026
• The alliance is a direct response to the growing influence of US tech firms such as Google’s Android Automotive OS and Google Automotive Services