A continuous functional safety-certified, Linux-based in-vehicle operating system will underpin a new generation of software-based vehicles. GM and Red Hat, a provider of open-source technology, aim to grow the ecosystem surrounding Red Hat’s In-Vehicle Operating System and expedite the development of GM’s software-centered car programs. The auto maker’s Ultifi software platform will form the foundation of these vehicles. It will be rolled out in phases in 2023 with the help of Red Hat.
Ultimately this will enable the two companies to deliver user features more reliably at a fraction of the usual development time by simplifying vehicle updates, which currently require recertification, and enabling them to be done more frequently. A variety of in-vehicle safety- and non-safety-related applications, including infotainment, ADAS, body control and connectivity, will be transformed.
“General Motors is now a platform company and working with Red Hat is a critical element in advancing our Ultifi software development. Incorporating the company’s expertise in open-source solutions and enterprise networks will pay dividends as we aim to provide the most developer-friendly software platform in the industry. With Red Hat’s operating system as a core enabler of Ultifi’s capabilities, the opportunity for innovation becomes limitless,” said Scott Miller, GM vice president, software-defined vehicle and operating system.
Essentially, with the integration of the Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System into the Ultifi platform, GM and Red Hat look to achieve reduced costs from consolidation and reuse of software across a common platform. Quicker development cycles will enable the OEM to get vehicles to market faster with new features and software improvements. Creation of new services, business models and revenue streams will underpin this.
Francis Chow, Red Hat vice president and general manager, In-Vehicle Operating System and Edge, said, “With millions of lines of code sustaining critical systems such as driver assistance, fuel economy and more, modern vehicles are more like mobile high-performance computers than the cars of the past. The time to innovate is now.
“These new vehicles give our industries a chance to create a common open platform without sacrificing functional safety. By collaborating with GM on the Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System, we intend to bring the era of open source to the automotive world, benefiting auto makers, ecosystem partners and consumers.”
