Saarbrücken and Munich, Germany, December 16, 2025 – HighTec EDV Systeme, the world’s largest commercial open-source compiler vendor, and Intellias, a global partner for AI-enabled product engineering and digital solutions, present the successful integration of Rust into automotive applications within an AUTOSAR environment. This was completed through the combined use of the Intellias ECU Kit, HighTec’s compiler toolchain, RTOS, and software components from Vector Informatik. Working collaboratively and leveraging Infineon AURIX™ microcontrollers, the ecosystem partners achieved a smooth migration from legacy C/C++ to a hybrid C/C++ and Rust environment, establishing a modern development process to further advance innovation in automotive software. The joint project proves that Rust can accelerate software development, enhance safety and security, and reduce overall development costs for next-generation software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
Rust to tackle challenges
Adopting Rust addresses four major challenges that OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers face: safety, cybersecurity, costs, and time to market. Their automotive systems’ safety and security can be sustainably enhanced thanks to Rust’s inherent memory safety features. At the same time, they can decrease and control their costs as Rust allows to detect memory safety issues during compilation time at an early stage of the development process. This prevents errors that would be extremely costly and time-consuming to fix later, in the worst case, only once the vehicle is already in production. In a hybrid development approach, OEMs and suppliers can retain their proven AUTOSAR Classic stacks and C/C++ investments while extending their code base with innovative and differentiating features in Rust and bringing them to market ahead of the competition.
Safety-qualified Rust compiler
OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers are often cautious to adopt Rust due to uncertainties around its integration into established automotive architectures. Companies like HighTec and Intellias are collectively promoting Rust adoption, combining their expertise, tools, and ecosystem experience to support smooth migration from legacy C/C++ code and enable safe and modern software development practices. HighTec was the first to offer a safety-qualified (ISO26262 up to ASIL D) Rust compiler complementing their proven automotive-grade C/C++ compiler tools for Infineon AURIX MCUs. Based on cutting-edge LLVM open-source technology, their compiler helps to build fast and reliable code and make the most of the MCU’s strong performance. Vector contributes its expertise in MICROSAR Classic, their comprehensive embedded software, and the related DaVinci tools for integrating application software written in Rust.
Migration without adapting infrastructure
With their ECU Kit, Intellias demonstrates the successful migration of integrated Rust-based software components into the AUTOSAR environment without changing the system’s infrastructure. This practical demonstrator is based on the Infineon AURIX TriCore TC375 and being connected to Intellias Automotive Technology Platform (IntelliKit) simulates real vehicle signals, like speed, battery charge level, or ultrasonic sensors for parktronic function. By keeping the AUTOSAR and C application code in place and adding Rust components through a defined integration path, the demonstrator shows a realistic, incremental migration strategy for OEMs and suppliers.
Rust brings huge potential to automotive software development that still has to be exploited. Together with strong ecosystem partners like HighTec, Infineon, and Vector, we help customers to quickly and successfully migrate to Rust in an AUTOSAR classic environment while achieving immediate cost savings.
HighTec makes innovative open-source technologies such as Rust automotive-grade for developing safety-critical automotive applications based on AURIX platforms. Through our collaborations with ecosystem partners like Intellias, our customers can overcome initial hurdles and accelerate their Rust migration projects, which we are happy to support with our highly optimized compilers designed for multi-architecture development.
Demos at CES 2026
At CES 2026, Intellias will showcase the Automotive Technology Platform, present its vision for AI-enabled engineering, and join partners in demonstrating solutions that accelerate the future of software-defined mobility at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), West Hall, Meeting Space #3377.
HighTec will be presenting their Rust and C/C++ compiler tools at Infineon’s Demo Room W307 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC); West Level 3.