Mercedes-Benz Unveils Its Roadmap to a 100% Digital Enterprise with Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)

Mercedes-Benz Open Source

(IN BRIEF) Mercedes-Benz is actively embracing Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) as a crucial element in its digital transformation journey. The company aims to lead in automotive digitalization under the banner of “Enterprise Transformation – 100% Digital.” FOSS plays a vital role in vehicle development, integrated software, and various areas within the company. Mercedes-Benz is integrating FOSS into its vehicles, mobile apps, and enterprise software to drive innovation, boost software development efficiency, and promote component reuse. The company’s FOSS Manifesto encourages developers not only to use but also to contribute to FOSS projects. Mercedes-Benz actively engages with the FOSS community through sponsorships, memberships in FOSS organizations, hosting the Mercedes-Benz FOSS Convention, and participating in open-source conferences. The company’s commitment to FOSS has earned recognition and awards in the open-source space, emphasizing its dedication to digital transformation.

(PRESS RELEASE) STUTTGART, 10-Nov-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — The Mercedes-Benz Group AG (former Daimler AG), one of the world’s most successful automotive companies, is making significant strides in its digital transformation journey. Under the banner of “Enterprise Transformation – 100% Digital,” the company is positioning itself as a frontrunner in automotive digitalization. The integration of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) has played a pivotal role in shaping vehicle development, integrated software solutions, and various facets of the organization. FOSS is seamlessly integrated into Mercedes-Benz vehicles, mobile apps, and enterprise software, driving innovation, enhancing software development efficiency, and facilitating the use of existing components.

Jan Brecht, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, remarked, “Many people see FOSS as a means of cost reduction. I believe that it attracts top talent and accelerates innovation.”

Mercedes-Benz’s FOSS Manifesto: Fostering Cultural Change Mercedes-Benz not only encourages its developers to utilize FOSS but also to actively contribute to existing open-source projects and initiate new ones. In early 2021, Mercedes-Benz introduced the Mercedes-Benz FOSS Manifesto, setting internal guidelines and fostering engagement with the global FOSS community simultaneously. The company is committed to expanding its involvement in the open-source realm. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz embraces the concept of “inner source,” applying open-source methodologies and techniques within the organization to promote global collaboration and knowledge sharing. The company emphasizes open and inner source awareness through organizational roles, online training, and an internal lecture series, involving more than 10,000 active users on Mercedes-Benz’s collaboration platforms. Mercedes-Benz’s daily use of FOSS fuels the development of the digital ecosystem.

Active Engagement in the FOSS Community Mercedes-Benz actively supports the FOSS community through sponsorships and memberships in key FOSS organizations. The company underscores its commitment to the open-source community by hosting the Mercedes-Benz FOSS Convention, an event that fosters collaboration between FOSS experts within Mercedes-Benz and open-source enthusiasts, developers, and community members worldwide.

Magnus Östberg, Chief Software Officer at Mercedes-Benz AG, stated, ”The Mercedes-Benz FOSS Convention is part of our contribution to the open source community. It is an opportunity for knowledge and experience exchange, networking and creativity. This is an important step on the way to becoming a software-driven company.”

Mercedes-Benz’s dedication to the open-source movement extends to participation in open-source conferences, featuring lectures and workshops. The company’s commitment has earned recognition, including the Open Source Program Office (OSPO) Leadership Award at the GitHub Universe conference in San Francisco. Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz Tech Innovation GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz AG, was honored with the Top End User Award 2023 by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF).

Media contacts:

Katja Liesenfeld
Manager Communication IT
katja.liesenfeld@mercedes-benz.com
+49 160 8621488

Juliane Weckenmann
Communication IT
juliane.weckenmann@mercedes-benz.com
+49 160 868 05 02

SOURCE: Mercedes-Benz Group AG