COVESA AOSP Hands-On Android OEM VHAL Workshop

The global COVESA community, along with innovators and non-members from across the connected vehicle ecosystem, will convene in Porto, Portugal, on 22–23 April 2026 for two days of collaboration and forward-looking discussions. This gathering brings together experts, developers, and industry leaders to explore the technologies, standards, and partnerships shaping the future of software-defined vehicles.

A key highlight of the event is the AOSP App Framework Standardization Expert Group’s hands-on Working Session on Android OEM VHAL, taking place on Wednesday, April 22, from 10:00–11:00 AM. Leading the workshop will be Jan Kubovy, Principal Research & Development Engineer at BMW Group, together with the Co-Chairs of the AOSP App Framework Standardization Expert Group, Sabine Hofschen, Research Project Manager at BMW Group; Richard Fernandes, Connectivity Standards Engineer at General Motors; and Jose Freitas, Head of Product at Appning by FORVIA. The session will delve into the evolving landscape of Android-based vehicle interfaces and the standardization efforts driving interoperability and innovation.

About the AOSP Android OEM VHAL Workshop 

As vehicles become software‑defined, OEMs face growing demand to expose selected vehicle data to various in‑car digital applications, while retaining full control over safety and permissions.

Today, OEMs typically choose between exposing all vehicle data via OEM‑specific signatures or exposing close to none at all. OEM-specific implementations lead to fragmented architectures, high integration costs, and slow ecosystem scaling.

This hands‑on workshop explores how an Android OEM AOSP‑based Vehicle Hardware Abstraction Layer (VHAL) can serve as a harmonized and scalable publishing layer for vehicle data. Using Android’s native VHAL framework, OEMs can expose reliable, consistent vehicle data across models and regions, without giving up ownership or control.

The session includes:

• A live AOSP VHAL showcase using an emulator
• Hands-on data flows & app integration
• Work on concrete use case ideas that profit from controlled data exposure
• An interactive discussion to identify high‑value, real‑world use cases

Participants will actively shape which VHAL values and data domains should be prioritized to support upcoming opportunities and operational efficiencies.

This workshop is aimed at OEM architects, platform engineers, and technical leads working on Android Automotive, SDV platforms, and vehicle data access strategies. Active participation and technical input are encouraged.

If you want to move from fragmented vehicle data access to scalable, ecosystem-ready solutions, join us and bring your technical perspective.

Let’s turn fragmented vehicle data into something that actually scales.

Join us in Porto 

Explore the full agenda, registration details, and participation opportunities on the official event page, and be sure to register for the COVESA All Member Meeting to take part in the workshop. The AOSP group will also extend the development session in the afternoon from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the showcase room. In addition, the AOSP group will be available at the AOSP table for questions and discussion during the COVESA Member Showcase & Reception.