OPEN Alliance and AUTOSAR join forces to advance ethernet based vehicle networking
Press Release, 14 October 2025
A new partnership between OPEN Alliance and AUTOSAR is set to accelerate the global shift toward Ethernet-based communication in vehicles, promising higher bandwidth, lower latency, and greater scalability for next-generation automotive systems.
The collaboration focuses on developing open, standardized Ethernet specifications that address key challenges in functional safety, cybersecurity, and interoperability—ensuring seamless communication across in-vehicle networks. The partnership will integrate technologies such as Physical Layer Specification, Switch Configuration, and Media Access Control Security (MACsec), bolstering data protection and performance in connected and autonomous vehicles.
Ethernet, already emerging as the backbone of modern vehicle architecture, enables data-intensive technologies like ADAS, autonomous driving, and Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs). Through this alliance, both organizations aim to harmonize their frameworks—avoiding duplication of work while supporting a consistent, scalable software architecture for future mobility solutions.
According to Tobias Belitz, OPEN Alliance Secretary and Networking Specialist at Renesas, the partnership reflects a shared mission to develop optimal networking strategies for the automotive industry. Similarly, Thomas Rüping, Chairperson of AUTOSAR, emphasized that the collaboration strengthens efforts to advance Automotive Ethernet with a strong focus on cybersecurity and safety use cases.
The partnership will also advance multiple technical initiatives, including the joint development of Ethernet Switch Requirements and Qualification (TC11), MACsec Automotive Profile (TC17), and Software for Switch Management and Configuration (TC19). By aligning OPEN Alliance’s specifications within the AUTOSAR framework, the automotive industry will benefit from improved interoperability and standardized communication protocols like SOME/IP, DoIP, and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN).
This alliance marks a major step toward establishing Ethernet as the industry standard for in-vehicle communication, enabling the next generation of connected, intelligent, and software-driven mobility solutions.
