What is the benefit of a model-based design of embedded software systems in the car industry?

Model-based development becomes more and more popular in the development of embedded software systems in the car industry. On the websites of tool vendors many success stories can be found, which report of efficiency gains from up to 50% in the development, high error reductions and a more rapid increase of the maturity level of developed functions (The Mathworks, 2010) (dSPACE 2010) just because of model-based development. Reliable and broadly spread research that analyze the status quo of model-based development and its effects on the economics are still missing. This chapter describes the results of a global study by Altran Technologies, the chair of software and systems engineering and the chair of Information Management of the University of Technology in Munich which examines the costs and benefits of model-based development of embedded systems in the car industry.