The full specification of SOME/IP (Scalable Service-Oriented Middleware over IP), the foundational communication standard for Automotive Ethernet in next-generation vehicles, will be made public by Technica Engineering and KPIT Technologies.
Collaboration will be made possible by this historic step, which will also accelerate software maturity across the mobility ecosystem and open up broader innovation.
Originally started by Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW), SOME/IP is now one of the most extensively deployed middleware protocols for in-vehicle Ethernet communication, operating in more than 40 million vehicles worldwide.
It makes it possible for large amounts of data to be securely sent across Automotive Ethernet into various ECUs, sensors, cameras, and cloud services within the vehicle.
These capabilities are central to the development of improved driver assistance, connected mobility, and Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs).
Until now, developers’ access to SOME/IP has been restricted due to its intimate ties to established automotive standards. Technica Engineering and KPIT are aiming to enable large-scale development, testing, and innovation for OEMs, suppliers, software developers, and academic institutions by making this specification openly available and free for everyone.
This will facilitate the co-development of new connected-mobility innovations and accelerate the deployment of software-defined vehicle features.
A fully open SOME/IP specification will increase safety, cybersecurity readiness, and operational efficiency with growing applications in passenger, commercial, and special-purpose vehicles. Additionally, it will guarantee interoperability across various architectures, which is becoming more and more critical as mobility systems get more complex.
Every connected and intelligent vehicle is powered by a constant data exchange between sensors, cameras, and computing systems. This real-time communication backbone is made possible by SOME/IP, which silently supporting the complex functions that define modern mobility.
Leadership Comments
Commenting on this, Mr. Anup Sable, Chief Operating Officer, KPIT Technologies and Managing Director, Technica Engineering, said, Automotive Network Architecture and Software complexity has risen sharply, as sensors, high performance computers, and actuators increasingly connected by Ethernet seek to drive speed innovation and consumer-centric vehicle feature updates. Communication protocols and Service Oriented Architecture inside the vehicle are now central to how OEMs architect these systems and scale differentiated experiences for millions of customers. By open sourcing SOME/IP, our intent is to make the protocol more widely accessible to developers, so the ecosystem can innovate faster and deliver better software defined vehicles.”
Thomas Königseder, CTO of Technica Engineering , said, “Opening up SOME/IP to the broader community is a decisive milestone for the future of Automotive Ethernet and modern automotive E/E architectures. As the industry moves toward truly service-oriented vehicle platforms, SOME/IP is a foundational enabler—but until now, its potential has been constrained by restrictive licenses that limited open-source adoption and the development speed that comes with it. By making this technology accessible under a new, open license, we unlock faster innovation, stronger ecosystem collaboration, and ultimately safer, more secure, and more connected vehicles. We’re proud to support a step that reinforces the core of Automotive Ethernet and accelerates the industry’s shift toward the software-defined vehicle era.”
Dr. Lars Völker, Technical Fellow, Head of Media Relations of Technica Engineering, said, “Publishing SOME/IP as an open specification is a milestone for our industry. It removes long-standing barriers, ensures transparency, and provides a solid and accessible foundation for modern automotive architectures. By enabling open-source development, we will dramatically accelerate development cycles, improve interoperability across platforms, and unlock faster, more collaborative innovation for the software-defined vehicle.”
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