With the automobile electronic systems growing more sophisticated as well as complex, there emerged a common recognition in the automotive industry that the cost and reliability requirements would never be met as long as automakers and electronic component manufacturers developed software separately. As a result, industry-wide efforts toward standardization began initially among automakers and electronic component manufacturers in Europe.

This report particularly focuses on major standardization efforts in the world regarding onboard software. Reported in some detail in particular are the efforts at AUTOSAR that began in 2003 in Europe, and efforts toward application of standards to mass production vehicles by JASPAR that was organized in Japan in 2004 as a standardization body of onboard software.

 JASPAR works with AUTOSAR and other organizations in proposing initiatives for global standardization activities, and their results are reflected in global standards. JASPAR was engaged in the embodiment activity toward the application of ISO road vehicles functional safety standard (ISO26262) in Japan and developed a number of design tools accordingly. This will continue on to the standardization activity of onboard application of Ethernet and other information-related technologies.

 Finally, the report gives a general remark suggesting the necessity to properly respond to the expanded range of standardization activities and to the qualitative change of the standardized technologies.