vSkipGen: Enabling Cloud-Native CDC Development with an Open standard, Hardware-Independent platform

As vehicles become increasingly software-driven, Cockpit Domain Controllers (CDCs) are central to delivering advanced infotainment, digital clusters, head-up displays, and more. To keep pace with rapid innovation, automakers need new ways to develop, test, and validate CDC software—quickly, securely, and at scale.

Panasonic Automotive vSkipGen™ is a next-generation virtualization platform and SOAFEE Blueprint reference that empowers automotive teams to develop and test CDC solutions in the cloud, on-premises, or any virtualized environment. vSkipGen™ brings flexibility, openness, and future-readiness to CDC development, making collaboration and innovation easier than ever.

vSkipGen™ (Virtual SkipGen) is Panasonic Automotive’s next-generation virtual Cockpit Domain Controller (CDC) platform designed to accelerate automotive software development. Acting as a “digital twin” of physical CDC hardware, vSkipGen™ allows development teams to build, test, and validate cockpit software entirely in the cloud or on any virtualized infrastructure—before actual hardware is available. By leveraging open standards like VirtIO and supporting multiple operating systems (such as Android Automotive OS and Automotive Grade Linux), vSkipGen™ enables flexible, hardware-independent development and testing, streamlining workflows and reducing costs for automakers and suppliers.

vSkipGen™ creates a cloud-native, virtualized environment that replicates the functionality of a physical Cockpit Domain Controller (CDC), allowing teams to develop and test automotive software without waiting for hardware. At its core, vSkipGen™ uses the industry-standard VirtIO specification to virtualize all key automotive devices—including CAN, GPU, storage, audio, sensors, cameras, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. Each device is virtualized using VirtIO and connects to a modular backend, which can be seamlessly integrated with vehicle simulators or Software-in-the-Loop (SiL) environments for realistic and scalable testing.

Multiple guest operating systems—such as Android Automotive OS (versions 13, 14, 15, 16), Automotive Grade Linux, Yocto Linux, or custom images—run on isolated virtual machines, just as they would on actual CDC hardware on top of hypervisor. For user interaction, vSkipGen™ streams high-resolution, high-frame-rate display output and audio from the virtualized CDCs directly to any browser via WebRTC technology, enabling remote and collaborative access to the cockpit experience. GPU acceleration ensures graphics-intensive interfaces perform smoothly and responsively. This flexible virtualization approach supports deployment on any major cloud provider or on-premises infrastructure (ARM64), enabling global teams to access, test, and validate CDC software in parallel.
 

Refer to the architecture diagram below for a visual overview of these components and their interactions.

• Develop CDC software before hardware is available
• Uses industry-standard VirtIO virtualization, making it hardware- and hypervisor-agnostic for all key automotive devices
• Supports multiple OSes—including Android Automotive OS (versions 13, 14, 15, 16), Automotive Grade Linux, and Yocto Linux—on ARM64 and x86
• Integrates easily with simulators and SiL environments
• Streams display and audio to any browser via WebRTC for remote access
• Delivers smooth graphics with GPU acceleration
• Scales effortlessly across cloud or on-premises infrastructure
• Reduces costs and environmental impact by reducing hardware needs
• Enables automated, large-scale testing and CI/CD integration
• Built on open standards for future-ready interoperability

vSkipGen™ is available now on AWS Marketplace for both evaluation and commercial deployment. To explore and get started, visit: Panasonic Automotive vSkipGen on AWS Marketplace.

For questions or to discuss integration with your development workflows, contact us at: [email protected].

Panasonic Automotive vSkipGen™ is transforming how automotive teams develop, test, and validate Cockpit Domain Controller (CDC) software. By combining cloud-native flexibility, industry-standard virtualization, and seamless integration with simulation tools, vSkipGen™ empowers both technical and non-technical teams to accelerate innovation without hardware limitations. Built on SOAFEE principles and open standards, vSkipGen™ offers a scalable, cost-effective, and future-ready platform for delivering the next generation of in-cabin experiences. With vSkipGen™, automakers and suppliers can confidently embrace the shift to software-defined vehicles and bring advanced cockpit solutions to market faster and more efficiently.

 

Disclaimers

Android is a trademark of Google LLC.

 

About Authors

Senthilnathan Subramanian is a Senior Staff Architect at Panasonic Automotive Systems. He specializes in the automotive industry with strong expertise in architecture and building automotive software products for the past 20+ years. As a tech enthusiast, he consistently demonstrates a profound passion for research and development in cutting-edge vehicle technologies, with a focus on delivering exceptional value and better experiences.  He is lately focusing on defining architecture and building solutions for what would called a software defined vehicle.

Vladimir Beloborodov is a senior staff engineer and software architect at Panasonic Automotive. He has more than 25 years of experience working as a software designer, team lead, project and technical manager in companies serving automotive, IoT and telecom industries. His professional interests include virtualization technologies, modern user interfaces and accessibility, cross-platform designs, advanced tools for logging and testing. Vladimir has been a part of the WebRTC technical community since 2012 and has been speaking on related topics at many professional events.