Toyota joins Linux Foundation as Gold member

1 Jul 2011

The Linux Foundation has announced that Japanese car-manufacturer Toyota has become its newest member. The non-profit organisation sponsors Linux creator Linus Torvalds and is dedicated to promoting the growth of Linux.

Toyota is now one of only twelve Gold members of the foundation, including Google, Nokia and Panasonic, and one of around 100 members overall.

"Linux gives us the flexibility and technology maturity we require to evolve our in-vehicle-infotainment (IVI) and communications systems to address the expectations of our customers," said Kenichi Murata, project general manager for electronics development at Toyota.

Linux-based systems are now being used inside vehicles to provide enhanced connectivity and features such as navigation and wireless internet.

The Linux Foundation hosts the MeeGo project, a distribution for mobile devices, which was adopted by non-profit industry alliance GENIVI. GENIVI Alliance is creating an open-source IVI reference platform and its members include BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Hyundai, Renault and Nissan, but not Toyota, at least currently.

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