BMW has joined China’s open source innovation centre to co-develop next-generation automotive software, blending German engineering with China’s digital ecosystem for smarter, software-defined vehicles.
BMW has become the first foreign automaker to join the Open Source Innovation Development Promotion Center under the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), marking a pivotal move in its local collaboration strategy and commitment to the software-defined vehicle era.
The collaboration underscores BMW’s intent to deepen cooperation with Chinese partners in intelligent and digital R&D, while building an open, shared automotive software ecosystem. Through open source collaboration, BMW aims to accelerate innovation, improve software development efficiency, and deliver more personalised and intelligent driving experiences for Chinese users.
“In China, we see extraordinary vitality in digital innovation,” said Robert Kahlenberg, Senior Vice-President of R&D at BMW China. “We will leverage China’s strengths in frontier technologies and innovation ecosystems to support BMW Group’s digital transformation.”
A representative from the Open Source Innovation Development Promotion Center noted that China’s open-source ecosystem has entered a stage of high-quality development under strong policy guidance and industry collaboration. The representative added that BMW’s participation will bring valuable global experience, accelerating progress in software stability, security, and toolchain development.
BMW has long invested in China’s software innovation landscape. It is among the earliest foreign automakers to establish full-stack software R&D capabilities locally, with its largest R&D network outside Germany spanning four innovation hubs and three software companies across Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Nanjing.
With locally produced Neue Klasse vehicles set to arrive in 2026, BMW’s open source collaboration is expected to further strengthen its intelligent and digital capabilities, delivering smarter, more connected, and more engaging driving experiences for Chinese customers.
