The automaker might port device drivers and other stuff to the GPL code (most likely Linux). Linux devs want it. This is how most Android drivers were opened, f

The automaker might port device drivers and other stuff to the GPL code (most likely Linux). Linux devs want it. This is how most Android drivers were opened, for example. If some automaker chooses Android, any kernel-level improvements will eventually flow back to the mainline. Unfortunately, improvements above the kernel stack will keep closed, since the Android userland don't adopt GPL as much. edit: for example, OpenWRT was created through a GPL enforcement lawsuit! Router companies weren't complying with GPL and were closing their kernel (which had in-house drivers). The companies were sued and had to open their code. You would think that their customers weren't interested in this, but actually.. many use openwrt to this day (arguably, there's even an environmental angle to this - openwrt increases the longevity of the router by having it do more stuff with the same hardware, reducing e-waste)