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by ognarb 361 days ago
Mercedes Benz is already for example using KWin from KDE as Wayland compositor and likely many other open source components. So this sort of move is not without precedent.

It's a smart move to do so instead of switching to Android Auto and loosing control of one of the most important component of the experience of the car.
2 comments
danogentili 361 days ago
Kia is also using a Linux Wayland system on an x86-64 Intel machine (with an iGPU) with an (excellent) QT5 UI for their infontainment system
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moogly 360 days ago
They're replacing it with an Android Automotive-based OS in 2026.
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eurleif 361 days ago
Wow: I run KDE with Wayland on my PC, and given the instability I've experienced, I'm surprised it's suitable for a high-reliability environment like a car. I suppose that it being a more controlled environment may help, but even still, I wonder how stable it actually is.
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bigyabai 360 days ago
They aren't using KDE for the car, just KWin. And KWin is a robust compositor - it will happily survive a horrible KDE crash and even let you restart the session (unlike Mutter) in many cases.

If you're only using a Wayland compositor to render a webview, you cut out a lot of the surface area that could potentially cause a crash.

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gerdesj 361 days ago
"Wow: I run KDE with Wayland on my PC"

Me too - its fine for me. You are probably holding it wrong 8)

My car (Seic MG4 - an EV) clearly has two lots of software. The reliable stuff that runs the "must work" stuff like driving controls and motors etc. and the other stuff that ought to work in an ideal world and I think that lot is on the Android tablet mid dashboard.

The other stuff even includes "lane assist" and other safety features because when I force re-boot the console they report as offline on the display behind the steering wheel, which I think is linked to the first system - the RTOS automotive jobbie.

I think SEIC (and I'm sure this is standard practice) have done a fairly decent job with the divvy up of responsibility between funky features and must work or death will ensure features. I'm an IT consultant and know when Android auto has crashed on my phone or car or both or the radio is on silent or there is dust in a USB port ...

Wayland vs X11 is not an issue in cars - whatever you get will either work always or be a bit of a mild distraction.

Cheers Jon

PS I went to school in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. My car has nothing in common with the real Morris Garage. The MG marque is merely an affectation and I don't know why Seic really bothers.

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