Linux has a strong development community and following in the land of personal computers, but so far it hasn’t gained a strong presence in the automotive industry. That may be about to change, and carmakers looking to save some cash in R&D may be able to leverage an upcoming Linux-based system.

Intel and Wind River systems are now working together to “create a Linux/x86 platform for car electronics,” according to EE Times.

It makes sense given the struggling players in the auto industry who are seeking to add more value and cut costs for demanding customers. Slim margins are a part of the car manufacturing business so any savings potential will draw interest.

But, Intel and Wind River are facing uncertainty from automakers that fear how open source will affect customer perceptions of the reliability and security of their systems.

. . . the two [companies] must fight concerns among car makers about open source, as well as fend off a variety of entrenched chip makers, including Freescale, NXP, Renesas and STMicroelectronics.

A Linux-based and open source platform for auto electronics also has the potential to give consumers more control over their vehicles. But, who would support them in case of errors and bugs?

Maybe a human powered hive mind with remote wireless access to the vehicle’s local system would fill that role, or a consulting company paid a retainer fee to provide tech support in case of emergencies.

Both options scatter support among multiple entities and that could make consumers nervous. They’re looking for one person to call who will take responsibility for the problem.

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Entry was posted on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 at 12:02 am under Linux, Open source.

Read more entries by Matt Jansen.
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