TIER IV Leads Autoware 2.0 Ecosystem for AI-Defined Vehicles

TIER IV announced on November 2, 2026 that it is spearheading Autoware 2.0 initiatives in collaboration with the Autoware Foundation and the global open-source community, the same day the foundation released version 2.0 of the open-source autonomous driving software with new support for end-to-end AI and hybrid driving stacks alongside established rule-based modules. TIER IV described Autoware 2.0 as a significant evolution of open-source autonomous driving software, expanding support for data-centric, AI-based approaches while maintaining compatibility with conventional rule-based approaches.

The company said key developments include a scalable and adaptive architecture supporting various configurations of AI-based and rule-based systems, a flexible indexing scheme for modular software integration, and a ready-made Reference Design framework to facilitate commercial adoption across different vehicles, applications, and operating environments. “Autoware 2.0 represents an important step toward the democratization of autonomous driving in the era of AI-defined vehicles,” said Shinpei Kato, founder and CEO of TIER IV. “Open-source software alone is not enough to transform the automotive industry.

We need an ecosystem that connects AI, computing platforms, cloud infrastructure, and automotive software into practical solutions.” The…