Advancing Industry Collaboration in Vehicle Software

The document argues that the transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs) requires enhanced industry collaboration due to the complexity of vehicle software platforms and their role in unlocking ecosystem value. It identifies six critical areas for collaboration: syntax and protocols, semantics, app development, operating environment, integration, and alignment and governance. While progress is advanced in syntax and protocols, significant gaps exist in the operating environment and integration areas. The paper recommends adopting a unified collaboration framework, establishing lead consortia for each area, ensuring consistent OEM representation, and leveraging the newly formed SDV Alliance to manage overarching governance.

• The market for software-defined vehicles is projected to grow from approximately $320 billion in 2023 to $660 billion by 2030, although the vehicle software platform itself is expected to account for only about 2% of this market.
• The transition to software-defined vehicles is described as a four-stage journey: Connected, Adaptive, Dynamic, and Immersive. This process involves a shift from distributed ECUs to central and cloud-native compute platforms and a move from embedded OS/Middleware to cloud-native software platforms.
• The World Economic Forum and Boston Consulting Group identified six broad areas for collaboration in the vehicle software platform: (1) Syntax and protocols, (2) Semantics, (3) App development, (4) Operating environment, (5) Integration, and (6) Alignment and governance.
• Current industry progress is uneven across the six collaboration areas; while syntax and protocols have 'Good coverage' (primarily via AUTOSAR), the 'Integration' area is currently not covered by any initiatives and the 'Operating environment' area has significant gaps regarding scaling for different hardware architectures.
• To manage the 'alliance of alliances' and ensure a shared vision, the SDV Alliance was created by four existing consortia: ECLIPSE SDV, SOAFEE, COVESA, and AUTOSAR.
• The document recommends four steps to ensure success: agreeing on a collaboration framework, implementing a holistic governance approach with 'lead' consortia for each area, ensuring consistent representation from OEMs and industry bodies, and accelerating work in the operating environment and integration areas.

APA

World Economic Forum (2024). Advancing Industry Collaboration in Vehicle Software. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Avancing_Industry_Collaboration_in_Vehicle_Software_2024.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Advancing Industry Collaboration in Vehicle Software. 2024. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Avancing_Industry_Collaboration_in_Vehicle_Software_2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Advancing Industry Collaboration in Vehicle Software |date=May 2024 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Avancing_Industry_Collaboration_in_Vehicle_Software_2024.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2024advancing, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Advancing Industry Collaboration in Vehicle Software}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2024}, month = may, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Avancing_Industry_Collaboration_in_Vehicle_Software_2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }