Autoware Foundation Newsletter: January to June Recap Edition!
Welcome to the Autoware Foundation Newsletter: Recap Edition!
It’s been a while since our last newsletter and we’ve got a lot to catch up on! Over the past six months, the Autoware Foundation community has been busy advancing open-source autonomy, growing our member base, and pushing exciting new projects forward.
So, what can you expect from this special recap edition? Here’s a quick preview:
🚀 Major announcements shaping the future of open autonomous driving
🤝 New members joining our community and bringing fresh expertise
💡 Highlights from events, workshops, and meetups worldwide
🔧 Updates on technology and demos
🌍 A look at how we’re expanding collaboration across industries and academia.
Whether you’re new to Autoware or a longtime supporter, this newsletter will give you a clear snapshot of where we are today and where we’re headed next.
Grab a coffee and dive in. There’s a lot to explore!
Major Announcements
Autoware Foundation 2.0 Has Arrived: A New Chapter Begins 💫
Since its founding in 2018, the Autoware Foundation has grown into a vibrant global community, now spanning over 20 countries, supporting more than 30 vehicle types, and engaging with over 500 organizations worldwide.
With this growth comes a renewed commitment to governance and collaboration. To better serve the community and accelerate progress, the Autoware Foundation has refreshed its management structure under Autoware Foundation 2.0:
- Clear separation of monitoring and execution
- Smarter decision-making with broader expertise
- Closer teamwork across technical, strategic, and academic groups
- More business opportunities for members
Leadership updates:
Board of Directors:
- Yang Zhang (Chair), Christian John, Suraj Gajendra
- Founding Chair Shinpei Kato now serving as Fellow
New Execution Leadership Team:
- Daisuke Tanaka (President & Operations Lead)
- Ryohsuke Mitsudome (Technical Steering Committee Chair)
- Johannes Betz (Strategic Planning Committee Chair)
- Muhammad Zain Khawaja (Managing Director of Product)
- Steve Taylor (Managing Director of Strategy)
- Samet Kütük (Head of Marketing / Community Advocate)
Thank you to everyone driving Autoware’s success. ❤️
Newest Members
Welcoming New Partners to the Autoware Community! 🎉
With over 20 years of experience in engineering education and industry training, NIT Academy will collaborate on enhancing Autoware’s safety and reliability through upskilling contributors in automotive safety standards and certification.
This AI startup focuses on software that helps robots understand and predict human behavior, aiming to boost Autoware’s prediction modules and support deployment in dynamic environments.
A leading commercial vehicle manufacturer in China, Weichai joins as our first OEM member, contributing to expanding Autoware’s capabilities in new operational domains, including off-road and mining applications.
Alternative Embedded Innovation AG
Based in Switzerland, AEI specializes in safety-critical embedded software for automotive and robotics applications, helping productize Autoware on top hardware platforms.
Joining as an alliance partner, ASAM shares our vision of open standards and collaboration, supporting Autoware’s simulation and software-defined vehicle initiatives.
A pioneer in autonomous trucking with over 200 million kilometers of commercial operation, Inceptio joins as a Premium Member to drive innovation and foster global partnerships.
Autoware Café
Fresh Conversations on Open-Source Autonomy ☕️
We’re excited to launch The Autoware Café, a brand-new series where we sit down with members of the Autoware community to share insights, stories, and the latest updates on all things Autoware.
In our first episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with Muhammad Zain Khawaja, Managing Director of Product at the Autoware Foundation. Zain took us through the exciting Privately Owned Vehicle initiative—a greenfield project delivering an AI-first, open-source autonomous driving stack designed for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. From L2+ to L4, powered by cutting-edge AI models like SceneSeg and EgoLanes, the conversation covered the product roadmap, upcoming features, and go-to-market plans. 🤖
If you missed it, catch the full podcast episode here: Watch the Autoware Café Episode 1
And the café is brewing again! ☕️
Join us next Wednesday, July 16 at 11 AM CET, for a thrilling new episode: “Putting an autonomous vehicle to the German driver’s license test!” 🚗💨
🎙️Our host, Samet Kütük, will be welcoming Ilir Tahiraj and Dominik Kulmer from the Technical University of Munich to tell us all about their daring experiment, live from the IAA MOBILITY show in this September. Previously, EDGAR wowed crowds at Oktoberfest – now the TUM team is aiming even higher by giving their favorite “driver” a real license (so it can tackle city errands!).
What to expect:
- Why TUM chose Autoware as their R&D software framework
- Insights on the current state of autonomous driving in Germany and the future ahead
Bring your questions, there’ll be plenty of time for Q&A!
Register for the LinkedIn live event on July 16th here.
We can’t wait to see you at the next Autoware Café! ☕✨
Member & Community Spotlight
Showcasing Innovation and Collaboration Across the Autoware Ecosystem 🔥
🚗 EDGAR’s Munich Challenge is On!
FTM Institute of Automotive Technology TUM’s Autoware-powered EDGAR Wiesn Shuttle is back, this time aiming to pass the real German driver’s license test at IAA MOBILITY! The TUM team invites all autonomous vehicle developers to join this exciting challenge on Bavaria’s streets.
Want to see how your self-driving platform stacks up?
Enroll now and get ready to prove your vehicle’s capabilities: Join the EDGAR Challenge (Participation in the challenge on September 9–14 requires all necessary permits and approvals from local authorities. )
Plus, the TUM team will share all driving data and open-source code after the event.
Watch the video here: EDGAR in Action – Video
🎓 Autoware Open AD Kit Now on Arm Learning Paths!
The Autoware Open AD Kit is now part of the Arm Learning Paths, offering developers a comprehensive guide to running demos on Arm Neoverse processors. This learning path covers SOAFEE architecture fundamentals, containerized workload deployment using Docker, and advanced configurations for cloud and on-premise environments.
Ideal for those familiar with Docker and looking to deepen their understanding of software-defined vehicle development on Arm platforms.
Start your learning journey here ➡️ Arm Learning Paths
🔍 Autoware Open AD Kit Featured in ASAM Guide
We’re honored to be highlighted in the recently published ASAM Guide on Software Defined Vehicles (SDV). This guide recognizes Autoware Foundation as a key player alongside industry leaders like AUTOSAR, COVESA, and Eclipse Software Defined Vehicle.
Our collaboration with ASAM e.V. focuses on integrating their SOVD standard with our Open AD Kit initiative. This partnership aims to develop a demonstrator showcasing how open-source software and industry standards can work together to accelerate safe, interoperable autonomous driving.
Download the electronic copy here ➡️ ASAM Guide PDF
🛠️ Red Hat’s SOAFEE Blueprint Showcases Open AD Kit Integration
Red Hat’s AutoSD seed project recently showcased a blueprint integrating Autoware Foundation’s Open AD Kit with their automotive-grade OS layer, AutoSD. This integration supports Kubernetes-style deployment using Podman and Systemd, providing a container-first approach for in-vehicle systems.
Built on CentOS Automotive and Red Hat In-Vehicle OS, AutoSD delivers ISO 26262 ASIL-B safety certification, SELinux security, real-time workload support, and OTA lifecycle management — all critical for production-ready autonomous vehicles.
The blueprint also features Jumpstarter tooling for automated CI-friendly deployment on both real hardware and virtual platforms, simplifying testing and development workflows.
Watch the video and read the detailed blog here ▶️ Red Hat Blueprint Video & Blog
Our community’s innovation and collaboration continue to push the boundaries of autonomous driving technology. Thank you to all contributors and partners driving this journey forward!
✨ Want to see your update featured in the next Member & Community Spotlight?
Send your news, achievements, or project highlights to samet.kutuk@autoware.org — we’d love to share your story with the community!
Latest Tech Blogs
Exploring Zenoh with Autoware: Faster, Smarter, and More Secure Data Handling 🚀
Zenoh is gaining momentum in robotics, IoT, and automotive for its speed, efficiency, and security in data communications. As an alternative to traditional ROS middleware, Zenoh continues to evolve, with recent updates rolling out in its 1.0.0 (Firesong) release. 🔥
We’re excited to share a new blog post from ChenYing Kuo (CY) of ADLINK Technology and ZettaScale Technology—an active contributor in the Autoware community. In this post, CY walks through setting up a prototype Fleet Management System (FMS) to control multiple Autoware-powered vehicles in the CARLA simulator.
Zenoh acts as the communication backbone, connecting vehicles via AD APIs and efficiently publishing messages to the FMS server backend, enabling seamless orchestration over the internet. 🌐
Dive into the details and learn how Zenoh enhances Autoware’s multi-vehicle management here: Read the blog on Autoware Foundation Blog
Past Events
Highlights from the Road: Autoware Foundation Around the Globe 🌍🚗
Reflecting on #CES2025: A Showcase of AI and Automotive Innovation
CES 2025 was a vibrant display of AI-powered tech shaping the future of software-defined vehicles (#SDV). Despite some major OEMs being absent, Japanese and Chinese automakers, tech giants like Microsoft and AWS, and many industry players filled the halls. The Autoware Foundation proudly sponsored the social event at the TIER IV booth, welcoming over 100 automotive professionals to experience live demos and connect with the community. We’re already looking forward to CES 2026! 🚀
Embedded World 2025
Though Autoware Foundation did not have a booth, many members like AMD, TIER IV, and Synopsys showcased their work on the show floor. Highlights included AMD’s automated valet parking demo powered by Autoware, TIER IV’s sensor fusion suite, and Synopsys’ Open AD Kit flavor. The event underscored the importance of openness and collaboration in automotive innovation.
Tech.AD 2025
This broad autonomous driving conference brought together a diverse group of industry experts. Topics ranged from radar technologies and automotive safety standards to cloud-native platforms. ASAM e.V. representatives played a key role, reinforcing the need for harmonized standards and collaborative development.
Meetup at the AWS Santa Clara Prototyping & Innovation Lab
Coinciding with NVIDIA GTC, this meetup featured presentations on the Autoware Open AD Kit demo, ASAM’s North American activities, and advancements in AI foundation models for the Privately Owned Vehicle stack. Supported by AWS, ASAM, Deepen AI, and TIER IV, it fostered technical discussions and community engagement.
COLUMBUSS Consortium Meeting
This consortium meeting highlighted the exclusive use of Autoware software for autonomous public transport in the Netherlands. Research institutions showcased driver training simulations and safety metrics, exploring shadow driver modes that blend human and autonomous control. The event also shed light on challenges and opportunities for off-road autonomy.
5th ICA Summit
Our Senior Tech Lead, Muhammad Zain Khawaja, moderated a panel on redefining vehicle software systems at the ICA Summit, joined by industry leaders from FORVIA, Porsche’s MHP, and HERE Technologies. This event was a key opportunity to showcase Autoware software and discuss the Privately Owned Vehicle stack with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and startups.
IEEE MOST Conference
Autoware featured prominently with a tutorial and Open AD Kit demo led by Boyang Tian. Presentations included innovative uses of V2X technology to enable shared perception environments, alongside the unveiling of the Star Shuttle by The CAR Lab.
SOAFEE APAC Seminar
The seminar highlighted the pre-launch video of the Open AD Kit Blueprint (SOAFEE-branded version coming soon!) and featured Autoware in over half of the presentations and demos. This demonstrated clear traction for Autoware within the APAC region’s autonomous vehicle ecosystem.
ICRA 2025
The Roboracer Foundation hosted its 24th autonomous racing competition, complemented by the third Roboracer online SIM racing league, attracting 58 teams. Autoware community members, including newcomers from Duckietown Robotics, connected and collaborated throughout the event.
16th ITS European Congress
The COLUMBUSS project showcased their Autoware-powered autonomous bus, offering free-of-charge autonomy software tailored for public transport. The demonstration attracted considerable attention and underlined Autoware’s growing role in public transit innovation.
ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expo
Although a pavilion booth was not present this year, Autoware Foundation members joined a strong community presence. Highlights included presentations on the Privately Owned Vehicle stack and Open AD Kit, alongside collaborations with partners like Deepen AI and ASAM e.V. The event reflected ongoing challenges in the German automotive sector and reinforced the need for open-source collaboration.
Electrified and Autonomous Systems Dive-In Day
Hosted by Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich, this full-day event featured Autoware vehicles and sensor-instrumented scaled models. Discussions covered regulatory frameworks and the future of electrified and autonomous systems, culminating in an informal barbecue fostering community connections.
Upcoming Events
Where to Find Autoware Foundation Next Months
July 29 Autoware Meetup @ AWS Prototyping & Innovation Lab, Santa Clara, USA
Aug 27 AVTE California, San Jose, USA
Sep 9 IAA Mobility, Munich, Germany
Sep 9 ROSCon Japan, 2025 Nagoya, Japan
Sep 10 ROSCon JP, Meetup Nagoya, Japan
Sep 25 GSVF 2025, Graz, Austria
Oct 27 ROSCon 2025, Singapore
Community Announcement Curation
Latest Updates from the Autoware Community 🚀
🚀 Download the Latest Open AD Kit Handout!
We’re excited to share the newest Open AD Kit Handout, featuring key updates revealed at #CES2025!
Highlights include:
- Integration of advanced perception containers, demonstrating cloud-to-edge software transition
- Red Hat’s AutoSD project booting on Open AD Kit within virtual prototyping environments with ASIL-B safety certification
Want to explore more?
📥 Download the handout here: Open AD Kit Handout
🏁 Autoware Challenge 2024 Results Are In! 🎉
The Autoware Challenge 2024 wrapped up in January, sponsored by TIER IV. Congratulations to the winners:
🥇 Team CommonRoad — Effortless Rapid Prototyping for Motion Planning
🥈 Team AV Perception — Pedestrian Trajectory Prediction Models
🥉 Team GT-ARC, TU Berlin — Multi-sensor 3D Object Detection
🏅 Honorable Mention: Team FTM Mapping — Consistent Long-Term Point Cloud Mapping
🎥 Presentation recordings are now available!
📺 Watch the full playlist here: Autoware Challenge 2024 Playlist
🚀 Autoware Foundation General Assembly 2024 Playlist Available!
Our annual General Assembly brought members and partners together to showcase diverse Autoware implementations and strategies.
👀 Dive into the presentations and learn how Autoware is powering innovation worldwide.
⏯️ Watch here: General Assembly 2024 Playlist
✨ Meet Scene3D 👀
Scene3D is an open-source neural network turning regular cameras into depth sensors, creating high-resolution depth maps with sharp object boundaries. It excels in tough scenarios like construction zones and adverse weather, adapting globally without extra training.
Why Scene3D matters:
- Full transparency and no licensing fees
- Real-time depth understanding prioritizing critical scene elements
- Reliable performance in all weather conditions
🎥 Learn more in this video narrated by Muhammad Zain Khawaja: Scene3D Video
🚀 Introducing SceneSeg
SceneSeg detects every critical object in raw camera feeds, from cars to unexpected hazards like loose tires, providing general-purpose vision intelligence that adapts worldwide.
Why SceneSeg is a game-changer:
- Open source freedom with community-driven improvements
- Learns what “important” looks like without custom detectors
- Handles rare, edge-case safety scenarios effectively
Tested across cities worldwide in varied conditions, SceneSeg is set to redefine autonomous vehicle perception.
🎥 Check out the narrated video by Muhammad Zain Khawaja here: SceneSeg Video
Thank you for catching up with all the exciting progress and community highlights from the Autoware Foundation. Our journey continues to grow stronger thanks to your passion, collaboration, and innovation.
Stay connected with us across all our channels to keep up with news, events, and exciting developments as they happen.
We look forward to sharing more progress and stories with you in the next newsletter. Until then, keep innovating and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible!
See you next time!
