Automotive Ethernet Group Welcomes Leading Global Automakers

DETROIT, Oct. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SAE Convergence 2012

News Highlights:

-- Industry aligns to drive broad adoption of automotive Ethernet connectivity

-- OPEN Alliance SIG membership expands > 13X in less than one year of formation

-- New IEEE 802.3 study group formed to advance automotive Ethernet

At SAE Convergence 2012, the OPEN Alliance (One-Pair Ether-Net) Special Interest Group (SIG), established to drive wide-scale adoption of Ethernet-based automotive connectivity, today announced that the organization has reached a total of 81 members in less than one year since its inception. New automaker members include Daimler, Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan, Renault, and Volvo Group Trucks. With 81 partnering organizations spanning the technology and automotive sectors, the OPEN Alliance is focused on addressing industry requirements for improving in-car networking for applications in in-vehicle safety, comfort, and infotainment, while significantly reducing network complexity and cabling costs. Visit www.opensig.org to learn more.

The OPEN Alliance has been key to establishing the viability of in-car Ethernet for communications in the vehicle by addressing interoperability and the technologies, tools and requirements for today's and tomorrow's vehicles. The newly established IEEE 802.3 Reduced Twisted Pair Gigabit Ethernet (RTPGE) PHY Study Group will also help drive the proliferation of automotive Ethernet.

Key to the OPEN Alliance is the proliferation of Broadcom Corporation's BroadR-Reach® Ethernet technology as an open standard. BroadR-Reach Ethernet technology, designed to address the stringent requirements of the automotive industry, delivers high-performance bandwidth of 100Mbps over an unshielded single twisted pair cable. By eliminating the need for expensive, cumbersome shielded cabling, automotive manufacturers can significantly reduce connectivity costs and cabling weight. License to the specification for BroadR-Reach is available to OPEN Alliance members under RAND terms via a license from Broadcom.

Quotes:

Kirsten Matheus, Ethernet Project Manager, BMW, OPEN Alliance SIG Chair

"As the OPEN Alliance SIG works to accelerate Ethernet-based communication in the car, we look forward to welcoming more technology providers and automotive manufacturers from across the globe. The technology promises a scalable architecture with sufficient bandwidth to support diverse in-car applications. As we further evolve the standard and the OPEN Alliance SIG, we plan to continue spurring innovation in the industry."

Nicholas Colella, Engineering Manager, Ford Motor Company

"Ethernet is an enabling technology for introducing advanced features into the automotive domain.  Standardization of technology and interfaces is an important factor to Ford Motor Company in the decision process of both adopting and contributing to the development of a technology. The objective of the OPEN Alliance SIG is the direction that adheres to Ford's criteria for technology development and will contribute to Ethernet adoption in this relatively new market space."

Natalie A. Wienckowski, Electronics Hardware Architecture Lead, General Motors

"At General Motors we are constantly working to develop new electrical system technologies to deliver tomorrow's features in a sound, efficient, and scalable manner. Ethernet for automotive application would be a welcome addition if designed for the rigorous environment and when supported by a robust supplier infrastructure.  The solution being developed by the OPEN SIG Alliance has the potential to meet these needs; therefore, we have decided to contribute to its development."

Tsuneo Ohno, Chief Engineer, Honda R&D Co., Ltd.

"Today, Ethernet technology is widely used in our daily lives, and it has great potential for utilization as in-vehicle network infrastructure. We hope to find optimum package of solutions to conform this technology to the automotive environment and requirements through the cooperative work among various members of the OPEN Alliance SIG."

Julien Maitre, EE System Engineer, Communication Technology, Volvo Group Trucks

"OPEN is not only an additional technology that enables new features or lowers the cost of existing ones. It is a real opportunity to enable interoperability at software and hardware level for applications using Ethernet. Moreover, OPEN avoids a dead end by promoting already the next generation."

About OPEN Alliance

OPEN Alliance (One-Pair Ether-Net) is a jointly developed special interest group (SIG) that encourages wide scale adoption of Ethernet-based, single-pair unshielded networks as the standard in automotive applications. The SIG's members include 81 leading tech and automotive member companies that address industry requirements for improving in-vehicle safety, comfort, and infotainment, while significantly reducing network complexity and cabling costs. For more information, visit www.opensig.org.

Since the May 2012 member update, new members include AISIN AW CO., LTD., ASL Vision, CAD-UL, CETECOM, Daimler, Delphi Automotive, Denso, Ford, FTZ Zwickau, Gebauer & Griller, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai Autron, IHR GmbH, Intrepid Control Systems, KPIT Cummins Infosystems, Lear, Murata, Myson Century, Nissan, Parrot S.A., Peiker, Pelagicore, PSS Belgium N.V., Renault, STMicroelectronics, S-Y Systems Technologies Europe GmbH, Tektronix, TDK-EPC Corporation, Telemotive AG, Veryx Technologies, Volvo Group Trucks and Wurth Elektronik.

Media Contact:
Tamara Snowden
Broadcom Public Relations & OPEN Alliance SIG Communications Chair
408 922-650
[email protected]

SOURCE OPEN Alliance SIG