Elektrobit
Major automotive embedded software vendor owned by Continental
Founded 1988 | Erlangen, Germany | 1,000–5,000 employees
firmware-developmentrtos-developmentembedded-linuxcybersecurityembedded-consulting
What is Elektrobit?
Elektrobit was established in 1988 and is headquartered in Erlangen, Germany, and has become a leading vendor of embedded and connected software products for the automotive industry, with its software running in more than 600 million vehicles across 14 global locations and 1,000-5,000 employees. Continental acquired Elektrobit as a wholly-owned, independently-operated subsidiary in 2015. Elektrobit's core focus is ECU software, AUTOSAR platforms, automated driving software, and connected-vehicle/UX software — a narrower automotive-only specialization than most firms on this list, but at a scale and standards-compliance depth (AUTOSAR, ISO 26262) few boutiques can match.
Elektrobit works primarily with clients in Automotive sectors. Its primary differentiator is: Automotive-only embedded software specialist with software running in 600M+ vehicles, backed by Continental's manufacturing scale.
Elektrobit tech stack and services
AUTOSARC/C++Embedded LinuxISO 26262-aware developmentECU software platforms
| Service area |
|---|
| Firmware Development |
| RTOS Development |
| Embedded Linux |
| Cybersecurity |
| Embedded Consulting |
Elektrobit pricing
Short answer: Elektrobit uses a fixed project, licensing, dedicated team pricing approach. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed; a discovery call is required.
| Engagement model | Typical range | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed project | From not disclosed | Well-defined scope |
| Licensing | Variable; depends on team size | Large programmes or team augmentation |
| Dedicated team | Variable; depends on team size | Large programmes or team augmentation |
Elektrobit does not publish a public rate card. Contact them directly via their website to get project-specific pricing.
Elektrobit pros and cons
| Advantages | Things to consider |
|---|---|
| +Software deployed in over 600 million vehicles gives Elektrobit a production track record few automotive embedded vendors can match | -Acquired by Continental in 2015 — operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary, which means engagement terms and priorities may be shaped by Continental's broader Tier 1 supplier relationships |
| +Continental's manufacturing and supply-chain scale backs Elektrobit's engineering, useful for Tier 1 OEM programs | -Automotive-only focus means no relevant experience for non-automotive embedded programs (medical, industrial, consumer) |
| +Deep AUTOSAR and ISO 26262-aligned platform expertise built specifically for automotive functional safety requirements | -Public pricing and minimum engagement are not disclosed |
Elektrobit vs alternatives
How Elektrobit compares to the other top Embedded Software companies.
| Company | Best for | Key difference | Rating | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemberg Solutions | Full-stack embedded builds needing hardware through cloud in... | 360° engineering across electrical, firmware, Linux, FPGA, and cloud under one roof with a certified in-house hardware lab | 4.8 | Full comparison |
| eInfochips | Enterprise clients wanting embedded engineering backed by Arrow's... | Component sourcing and supply-chain access via parent company Arrow Electronics, paired with a 30-year product engineering track record | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| DMC, Inc. | Manufacturers needing embedded work bundled with factory automation. | Combines embedded systems engineering with manufacturing and test automation under one US-based team | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Integra Sources | Startups wanting one team for both hardware and... | Turnkey hardware-plus-firmware delivery from a single small team, avoiding the coordination overhead of separate vendors | 4.1 | Full comparison |
| Innowise | Buyers wanting embedded work bundled with broader software... | Large-scale IT outsourcing capacity with an IoT/embedded delivery line inside a much broader software portfolio | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| Avenga | Enterprises wanting IoT engineering inside a broad digital... | Broad software, data, and IoT portfolio backed by scale from consolidating multiple acquired firms since 2017 | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| ByteSnap Design | UK/EU clients needing custom electronic board design paired... | ISO 9001-certified UK boutique with named partnerships across STMicroelectronics, NXP, Microchip, Digi, and Analog Devices | 4.4 | Full comparison |
| LTTS | Large enterprises needing embedded engineering with public-company governance. | Publicly-listed engineering R&D scale (23,800+ engineers) backed by the L&T Group, spanning embedded, automotive, and industrial IoT | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| DornerWorks | Aerospace, defense, and medical programs needing safety-critical embedded... | Deep specialization in high-reliability aerospace, defense, and medical embedded systems, including FPGA and hypervisor work | 4.6 | Full comparison |
| Sirin Software | Semiconductor and IoT teams needing deep wireless protocol... | Named specialization in wireless stacks (Wi-Fi, BLE, Matter, UWB, NFC, LoRaWAN) across Linux, Zephyr, FreeRTOS, and ThreadX | 4.3 | Full comparison |
| Promwad | European clients wanting hardware, firmware, and FPGA from... | End-to-end European design house covering PCB, FPGA, embedded Linux, and manufacturing coordination in one contracted partner | 4.3 | Full comparison |
| Timesys | Teams needing embedded Linux security and long-term maintenance... | Nearly three-decade specialization in embedded Linux security and long-term-support tooling, now under Lynx Software Technologies | 4.2 | Full comparison |
| emlix | Industrial and safety-critical clients needing deep embedded Linux... | Over two decades of pure-play embedded Linux specialization serving 350+ customers in German industrial and safety-critical sectors | 4.5 | Full comparison |
| Pengutronix | Teams needing genuine upstream Linux kernel expertise, not... | Developers directly contribute upstream to the Linux kernel (2,500+ changes across 4,000+ files in 2023 alone), a depth signal few consultancies can match | 4.6 | Full comparison |
| Vector Informatik | Automotive teams standardizing on AUTOSAR tooling and ECU... | One of the primary commercial forces behind the AUTOSAR standard, combining automotive embedded tooling with engineering services | 4.5 | Full comparison |
| KPIT Technologies | Global automotive OEMs needing software-defined vehicle engineering at... | Publicly-listed, automotive-only embedded engineering at 12,000+ engineer scale, specializing in software-defined vehicle architectures | 4.1 | Full comparison |
| Tata Elxsi | Enterprises needing embedded engineering alongside media or healthcare... | Broad ER&D scale spanning automotive, media/telecom, and healthcare, with 35+ years of engineering R&D history | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| Capgemini Engineering | Global enterprises needing embedded work inside a broad... | One of the largest global engineering consultancies by headcount, with embedded/electronics as one of many technical domains covered | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| Cyient | Aerospace and defense programs needing embedded avionics engineering... | Aerospace-focused embedded avionics practice (fly-by-wire, autopilot, collision avoidance) backed by acquisitions like CERTON Software | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| QuEST Global | Multi-vertical enterprises needing embedded engineering alongside broader R&D. | Very broad engineering-services scale (90+ delivery centers, 18+ countries) with embedded/silicon engineering as one capability among many verticals | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Wind River | Safety-critical aerospace and industrial programs standardizing on VxWorks. | Maker of VxWorks, a certified RTOS deployed in commercial and military aircraft, with over 40 years of real-time systems history | 4.2 | Full comparison |
| GlobalLogic | Enterprises wanting embedded work inside a broader Hitachi-backed... | Hitachi-owned digital engineering scale with silicon and embedded hardware/software solutions plus a named Elektrobit automotive partnership | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Luxoft | Automotive OEMs needing infotainment and digital cockpit software... | Automotive software systems integrator with software in 50M+ vehicles, partnering with 8 of the 10 largest vehicle manufacturers, now under DXC Technology | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Data Respons | Nordic and European clients needing embedded work across... | Nordic embedded specialist with nearly 40 years of history across eight distinct industry sectors, now backed by Akkodis' scale | 4.2 | Full comparison |
| Klika Tech | Teams needing edge-to-cloud IoT systems with AWS-native integration. | AWS Premier Partner specializing specifically in edge-to-cloud IoT integration, backed by a documented STMicroelectronics partnership | 4.3 | Full comparison |
| Intellias | Automotive clients needing navigation and connected-vehicle software at... | Named automotive navigation technology deployed across 10+ car brands and 10M+ vehicles, inside a broader IT outsourcing portfolio | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| N-iX | Enterprises wanting embedded/IoT work bundled with broader cloud... | 15+ years of dedicated IoT and embedded solutions experience inside a broader custom software engineering portfolio | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| HCLTech | Global enterprises wanting embedded engineering as part of... | Embedded engineering delivered by the Engineering & R&D Services business unit inside one of the world's largest IT services companies | 3.7 | Full comparison |
Elektrobit FAQ
What is Elektrobit?
Major automotive embedded software vendor owned by Continental
How much does Elektrobit charge?
Elektrobit uses fixed project, licensing, dedicated team pricing. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. A discovery call is required to get project-specific quotes.
What tech stack does Elektrobit use?
Elektrobit works with AUTOSAR, C/C++, Embedded Linux, ISO 26262-aware development, ECU software platforms. Primary industries served include Automotive.
Is Elektrobit right for enterprise?
Automotive OEMs needing AUTOSAR and ECU software at scale. 1,000–5,000 team size. Key consideration: Acquired by Continental in 2015 — operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary, which means engagement terms and priorities may be shaped by Continental's broader Tier 1 supplier relationships.
What are the best Elektrobit alternatives?
The best alternatives to Elektrobit depend on your use case. Top options are:
- Lemberg Solutions: 360° engineering across electrical, firmware, linux, fpga, and cloud under one roof with a certified in-house hardware lab
- eInfochips: component sourcing and supply-chain access via parent company arrow electronics, paired with a 30-year product engineering track record
- DMC, Inc.: combines embedded systems engineering with manufacturing and test automation under one us-based team
Compare Elektrobit with other Embedded Software companies
Elektrobit vs Lemberg Solutions Elektrobit vs eInfochips Elektrobit vs DMC, Inc. Elektrobit vs Integra Sources Elektrobit vs Innowise Elektrobit vs Avenga Elektrobit vs ByteSnap Design Elektrobit vs LTTS Elektrobit vs DornerWorks Elektrobit vs Sirin Software Elektrobit vs Promwad Elektrobit vs Timesys Elektrobit vs emlix Elektrobit vs Pengutronix Elektrobit vs Vector Informatik Elektrobit vs KPIT Technologies Elektrobit vs Tata Elxsi Elektrobit vs Capgemini Engineering Elektrobit vs Cyient Elektrobit vs QuEST Global Elektrobit vs Wind River Elektrobit vs GlobalLogic Elektrobit vs Luxoft Elektrobit vs Data Respons Elektrobit vs Klika Tech Elektrobit vs Intellias Elektrobit vs N-iX Elektrobit vs HCLTech
Verify all details directly with Elektrobit before making a decision.