BMW and Monotch urge structural reset in C-ITS

BMW and Monotch will present the whitepaper during Intertraffic Amsterdam on March 10 in a joint session titled “Re-inventing C-ITS: Paradigm Neutrality vs. Technology Neutrality.” They will publish the full paper later that afternoon, following the presentation.

Over the past 20 years, policymakers and industry have launched initiatives, developed standards and invested significantly in C-ITS. Yet adoption remains fragmented, and system-level impact remains limited. The authors identify deployment logic — not technological maturity — as the core obstacle.

The paper argues that the prevailing interpretation of “technology neutrality” often anchors regulatory and investment frameworks to specific communication paradigms. This approach slows scalable implementation and weakens ecosystem-wide value creation.

Instead of questioning cooperative mobility itself, BMW and Monotch introduce what they define as “paradigm neutrality.” This framework begins with clearly defined outcomes — improved safety, traffic efficiency and user experience — and then applies the most effective combination of backend-based data exchange, sensor intelligence and direct communication technologies where appropriate. The focus shifts from defending technical doctrine to delivering measurable system-level results.

“C-ITS does not suffer from a lack of innovation,” says Menno Malta, CEO and founder of Monotch. “It suffers from an implementation model that prioritises technological alignment over measurable impact. If we want real improvements within this decade, we must focus first on outcomes and user value. Paradigm neutrality enables pragmatic architectural choices without locking the ecosystem into a single pathway.”

“Vehicle platforms operate globally and over long lifecycles,” says Reinhard Jurk, Senior Expert Automotive Cloud at BMW. “A paradigm-neutral framework preserves interoperability and innovation flexibility while enabling cooperative services to deliver tangible benefits today. It aligns infrastructure, vehicles and cloud intelligence around shared objectives rather than predefined technical models.”

By bringing together infrastructure and vehicle-domain perspectives, the authors contribute a cross-ecosystem viewpoint to European and international policy discussions. They position the paper as a pragmatic blueprint to accelerate C-ITS adoption while maintaining long-term flexibility.

The presentation of this paper will take place on Tuesday, March 10, from 15:30 to 16:00 in Summit Theatre 3 at Intertraffic Amsterdam. The session will conclude with an open Q&A. BMW and Monotch will release the full whitepaper for public download later that afternoon.

About BMW Group

BMW Group is a leading global manufacturer of premium automobiles and motorcycles. The company operates a worldwide production network and serves customers in more than 140 countries. With its brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, BMW Group focuses on innovation, sustainability and long-term value creation in premium mobility.

About Monotch

Monotch is the company behind TLEX® — the real-time data-sharing layer that connects road infrastructure, road users, applications, AI models, and data-exchange networks. TLEX is the proven foundation for connected mobility and digital infrastructure, enabling interoperability and real-time collaboration across the mobility ecosystem. Founded in 2015, Monotch has rapidly grown into an international leader in smart mobility. Our technology powers scalable, secure, and future-ready mobility solutions — helping public and private partners around the world to connect systems, improve safety, and accelerate innovation.