BMW asks other automakers to collaborate on in-car open source platform

In March of last year, we heard that Toyota had a mind to create its very own in-car operating system to "boost efficiency and speed up development." Now, it's bruited that BMW is asking any automaker who will listen to join hands in order to jointly develop an open source in-vehicle platform. The company has stated that it plans on having an open source system in a vehicle that sells 200,000 or more units within the next five to seven years, and while employees from rivals were on hand when the proclamation was made, no one was rushing to call dibs on first. Still, it sounds as if BMW will be forging ahead with or without any assistance, though bigwig Gunter Reichart did assert that BMW was "inviting other OEMs to join it [and] to exchange with it." In an apparent attempt at providing comic relief, Jim Buczkowski (Ford's director of global electrical and electronics systems engineering) stated that through its partnership with Microsoft, it already had 280,000 vehicles on the road with an open system. Hmm, clearly our definitions of "open" are somewhat incongruent.

[Via Motor Authority, thanks Laminaatplaat]

[2shae @ Oct 24th 2008 5:08AM]

If it was actually OPEN source AND DECENT i might replace the os i have on my custom car computer.

Heres to hoping

[Rob @ Oct 24th 2008 5:30AM]

Great!

Now lets hope that end users will still be able to load their own software and add functionality!

In any case, I am happy driving a BMW and not a Ford, for more reasons then one!

[From My Cube @ Oct 24th 2008 5:36AM]

please please please replace there idrive crap

[Rob @ Oct 24th 2008 7:22AM]

Actually I have iDrive on my BMW E91 and I do not think it is as horrible as people claim. Typically these claims come from people that do not have it, and might only have tried it on a short testdrive. Having said that it definitely needed a major update, and it just so happens that it just got a major update! The BMW 3-series 2009 models (manufactured from September 2008) and the new 7-series have a brand new iDrive system which is a MAJOR improvement.

Just have a look here at the new system:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179330

[Andrew @ Oct 24th 2008 7:58AM]

Exactly right Rob. The iDrive is only terrible to people who are too stupid to learn how to use it. Your CA should explain it all to you when you buy the car, and you should read your manual as well. Then again, it's not hard to learn as it is. The only thing you might have to read or be told is that holding it to one direction goes straight to that direction's screen (settings, nav, entertainment, climate, clockwise from the top).

However, I do agree. The new iDrive looks AMAZING. Part of the reason I got a lease on my car is because I never keep a car for more than a couple of years, I don't drive many miles, and I always want new. Unfortunately, I took delivery in May and this is already out, so I have some waiting to do still, haha.

[Magallanes @ Oct 24th 2008 12:14PM]

Garmit + a decent audio system (separate system) > iDrive

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Oct 24th 2008 1:07PM]

I think iDrive is alright. My dad has an '07 that I drive when I'm in town, and it works pretty well. They've refined it over the years, it used to be worse from what I understand.

Still has plenty of room for improvement. The UI is consistent, but unintuitive enough that even after using it 10 or 15 times I still make mistakes. But my 70 year old dad has it down pat. He's not a computer guy, but is moderately open to learning new technologies.

[theHOBBIT @ Oct 24th 2008 5:39AM]

Anything would be better than iDrive, which is god awful.

[iEye @ Oct 24th 2008 5:40AM]

Actually I am waiting for more important features such as;

1) Digital Black box that records in loop 1 minuite before an accident and 5 minutes after the accident on tamper proof digtal media. No more insurance making $$$ on responsible drivers

2) cars that can communicate with each other in bad weather, if a car is sliding through an intersection on ice, or going through a red light, it will alert other cars of the situation so they can possible avoid it...

If I want media in my car I have my Netbook of even better my iPhone!

[Muhammed @ Oct 24th 2008 6:00AM]

A typical iEye comment ....

[wodheila @ Oct 24th 2008 7:31AM]

"I am waiting" live don't "wait"... do. http://www.think-ink.net/visit/waiting.htm

[Taylor @ Oct 24th 2008 7:15AM]

I think if they'd invented technology to tell when a car has gone through a red light (at intersections without cameras) the police would be the first to care.

[Ric @ Oct 24th 2008 6:25AM]

For god's sake, just use a fork of Android and spend the R&D on increasing MPG or buying some clues for the people who came up with I-Drive.

[ShadowMaker @ Oct 24th 2008 7:30AM]

Are you sure you want to make a left turn?

Yes, No, Cancel.

[Duh @ Oct 24th 2008 8:02AM]

cough *linux* cough *Android* cough.

Seriously... automakers are so out of touch. Everything they need is out there. Shows how out-of-touch they are. How about putting that money into hardware instead? Can someone say '3G/CDMA/EDGE head units'? I think I just did.

[Eldiablo @ Oct 24th 2008 2:10PM]

I was wondering myself if BMW had a call from the big G saying 'Hi, we've an OS you might want to look at'.

The problem automakers have is they have to design their 'ICE' to last not just for 3, 4 or 6 years, but potentially for upto 25years or the life of the vehicle. This is one reason why USB has taken soo long to start being installed into cars - it now seems like its a good format and interface that will be around for a while.

[VampireHunter Z @ Oct 24th 2008 8:05AM]

I wonder why auto makers don't allow cars to do a self diagnostic. The check engine light stores error codes in memory that only mechanics can read when they hook it up to a computer. It would be nice if we get more details than just a light.

[oZ @ Oct 24th 2008 8:55AM]

Since the mid-90s, Chrysler group vehicles could show you the numeric codes by doing a shuffle with your ignition key, which you could look up. I believe modern ones with the big digital readouts will actually show you what the issue is in text. I'm sure other auto manufacturers do this.

[jorvay @ Oct 24th 2008 9:11AM]

But then how would they be able to charge you $100+ to plug in a single cable and read a screen?

[E30 @ Oct 24th 2008 12:38PM]

As did BMW starting in the mid-80s. Just turn the ignition to ON, pump the brake pedal 4x, and the check engine light would flash a code for whatever was ailing the car. Those early BMWs are still awesome.

[Eldiablo @ Oct 24th 2008 2:12PM]

You might want to investigate the ODB-II interface. Does what you want, and is relatively inexpensive.

[Patrick Austin @ Oct 27th 2008 3:57PM]

ODB-II doesn't give you 1/10th of what the car's computer knows.

The makers don't want to give you full access...because yeah, then why would dealerships pay them $50K for their magic diagnostic equipment.

[Looie @ Oct 24th 2008 8:07AM]

This will be great but only if they add some more controls to that steering wheel. Maybe a full keyboard to improve safety.

[Jason @ Oct 24th 2008 9:03AM]

"Do you remember what were you doing just before the accident?"

"Looking for the letter B."

[chrisp @ Oct 24th 2008 9:08AM]

As long as long as Microsoft stays out of it, I wouldnt want my new BM to crash for no apparent reason. Then again i don't think they even know the reason of the word 'open source'.

What I'd really like though is an application that tells you it's detected a collision after you've rammed you car into a brick wall at 200MPH :P

That would be Ubercool

[tonyfpaz @ Oct 24th 2008 11:37AM]

You do realize that Microsoft already has an automotive division and that their software is in more cars than you think? Can we stop with any and all knee-jerk "Microsoft always crashes" remarks, seeing as how they are pretty dated and no longer relevant? Here's hoping.

[Jeremy W @ Oct 24th 2008 1:19PM]

Yes, because the Microsoft OS that runs the radio in my car crashes ALL THE TIME. And by all the time, I mean it has never crashed. Not once.

[matt merritt @ Oct 24th 2008 9:08AM]

@Jason

No one said that Apple would have to make the keyboard.

[matt merritt @ Oct 24th 2008 9:09AM]

Screw it... I hit the reply button, it makes a new post. The world turned upside down, I say.

[nxp3 @ Oct 24th 2008 4:02PM]

A dedicated hardware computer is fine, why even bother with some damn car OS. The one thing you notice about anything, take phones for example. If you got a phone that does nothing but call people, you have no problems with it. When a phone starts doing other shit, it crashes and you have to reboot it now and then, and sometimes you gotta wipe it out completely and reinstall. Now imagine that for your car. Please....keep the os, give me a simple hardware, dedicated device.

[rand @ Oct 24th 2008 9:46AM]

5 to 7 years in car manufacturer years is 15 to 21 years for the rest of us,

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 26th 2008 8:02PM]

I can't wait for Ubuntu "Auto" Mobile. I just don't want it to run off windows because I shudder at the thought of getting a BSOD when Im on a road trip and I get lost in the middle of nowhere...

[Jeremy @ Oct 24th 2008 2:41PM]

BMW Rocks.

[matt @ Oct 24th 2008 3:11PM]

Android?

[Justin @ Oct 24th 2008 4:48PM]

Neat! I hope everything works out.