Elektrobit (EB) vs Oxalis Design: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Elektrobit (EB) (4.2/5) edges ahead of Oxalis Design (4.1/5) overall. Elektrobit (EB) is the better choice for large-scale automotive firmware programs requiring ASIL D certification. Oxalis Design is the stronger option for small connected-device programs needing direct access to senior engineers. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Elektrobit (EB) vs Oxalis Design: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Elektrobit (EB) | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1988 | 2019 |
| HQ | Erlangen, Germany | Bristol, UK |
| Team size | 1,000–5,000 | 2–10 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | ASIL D-certified automotive software running in more than 600 million vehicles as a Continental subsidiary | Founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached |
| Pricing model | Enterprise automotive software engagements | Project-based electronics and embedded engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | MISRA C, C, C++ | C, C++, RF Design |
| Industries served | Automotive | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial |
Elektrobit (EB) vs Oxalis Design: overview
Elektrobit (EB)
Elektrobit traces its roots to 3SOFT, a firm founded in Erlangen, Germany in 1988 that became an automotive control-device specialist before its 2004 acquisition by the Finnish Elektrobit Group and 2015 acquisition by Continental, where it now operates as a wholly owned, independently run subsidiary. With more than 1,000 employees, its software runs in over 600 million vehicles worldwide, covering car infrastructure software, connectivity and security, automated driving tooling, and user-experience platforms up to ASIL D, the highest automotive functional-safety level. That scale and certification depth make it one of the largest and most safety-credentialed firms on this list, at the cost of the flexibility a smaller boutique firmware team can offer.
Oxalis Design
Oxalis Design is a Bristol, UK electronics and embedded systems consultancy founded by Alex Turner and Alex Thornicroft, both experienced electronics and software engineers. The firm's stated scope covers electronics hardware and RF design, embedded software development, and connected-device development for medical, consumer, and industrial clients, from early concept through pilot builds and the transfer to production. As a small, cohesive team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware rather than a broader product-design or general IT practice, it suits clients who want senior engineers directly on their project rather than layers of account management.
Services and capabilities: Elektrobit (EB) vs Oxalis Design
| Capability | Elektrobit (EB) | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| RTOS firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bare-metal & driver development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Secure boot / OTA firmware updates | ✓ | ✗ |
| MCU & platform migration | ✗ | ✗ |
| Connectivity & IoT protocols | ✗ | ✓ |
| Functional safety / compliance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embedded AI / on-device inference | ✗ | ✗ |
| Firmware GUI development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hardware co-design / board bring-up | ✗ | ✓ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Elektrobit (EB) vs Oxalis Design
| Framework / platform | Elektrobit (EB) | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| STM32 | N/A | N/A |
| ARM Cortex-M | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | N/A |
| MISRA | ✓ | N/A |
| Secure Boot | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| RISC-V | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Elektrobit (EB) vs Oxalis Design
| Criterion | Elektrobit (EB) | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Enterprise automotive software programs | Project-based engineering, concept through pilot build |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Elektrobit (EB) vs Oxalis Design
| Dimension | Elektrobit (EB) | Oxalis Design |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Mid-market to enterprise | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Automotive | Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial |
| Best use cases | ASIL D-certified safety-critical automotive control software, Large-scale automated driving software platform development | RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device, Medical device electronics and embedded firmware from concept through pilot build |
| Typical project type | Enterprise automotive software programs | Project-based engineering, concept through pilot build |
Elektrobit (EB) vs Oxalis Design: pros and cons
| Elektrobit (EB) | |
|---|---|
| + | ASIL D certification, the highest automotive functional-safety integrity level, is a credential few firmware vendors on this list can match |
| + | Software runs in more than 600 million vehicles, an unusually large deployed-scale figure to verify a track record against |
| + | 1,000 to 5,000 employees give it enterprise-scale delivery capacity for the largest automotive programs |
| + | Continental ownership since 2015 provides financial stability and tier-1 automotive supplier relationships |
| - | Wholly owned by Continental, a tier-1 automotive supplier, which is a disclosed ownership relationship worth weighing for OEMs that compete with Continental's other business lines |
| - | Enterprise scale and process overhead typically make it a poor fit for small firmware projects or startups needing fast iteration |
| - | Automotive concentration means its stated expertise carries over less directly to medical, industrial, or consumer firmware work |
| Oxalis Design | |
|---|---|
| + | Founded and led directly by two working electronics and software engineers, giving clients direct senior-level involvement |
| + | Focus on electronics and embedded firmware exclusively, without a broader IT or general software practice diluting attention |
| + | RF design capability in-house means wireless connectivity work doesn't require a separate specialist vendor |
| + | Serves medical, consumer, and industrial clients from concept through pilot build and transfer to production |
| - | A team of 2 to 10 people limits capacity to a small number of concurrent client programs at any time |
| - | Publicly verifiable founding date and detailed case study history are limited |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
Who should choose Elektrobit (EB)?
A typical fit: ASIL D-certified safety-critical automotive control software.
ASIL D-certified automotive software running in more than 600 million vehicles as a Continental subsidiary. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Automotive.
Who should choose Oxalis Design?
A typical fit: RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device.
Founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices, Consumer electronics, Industrial.
Decision matrix: Elektrobit (EB) vs Oxalis Design
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Both offer fixed-price models |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Elektrobit (EB) (Not published) vs Oxalis Design (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Oxalis Design |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Elektrobit (EB) vs Oxalis Design
| Use case | Elektrobit (EB) fit | Oxalis Design fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASIL D-certified safety-critical automotive control software | Strong | Limited | Elektrobit (EB) |
| Large-scale automated driving software platform development | Strong | Limited | Elektrobit (EB) |
| RF and firmware co-design for a new connected consumer device | Limited | Strong | Oxalis Design |
| Medical device electronics and embedded firmware from concept through pilot build | Limited | Strong | Oxalis Design |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Elektrobit (EB) vs Oxalis Design
Elektrobit (EB) (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Development projects. ASIL D-certified automotive software running in more than 600 million vehicles as a Continental subsidiary.
Oxalis Design (4.1/5) is worth a look if you need medical device electronics and embedded firmware from concept through pilot build. If your situation matches that, Oxalis Design is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Elektrobit (EB) vs Oxalis Design FAQ
Is Elektrobit (EB) better than Oxalis Design?
Elektrobit (EB) (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Elektrobit (EB)'s strongest advantage: ASIL D certification, the highest automotive functional-safety integrity level, is a credential few firmware vendors on this list can match. Oxalis Design's strongest advantage: founded and led directly by two working electronics and software engineers, giving clients direct senior-level involvement.
How do Elektrobit (EB) and Oxalis Design differ in pricing?
Elektrobit (EB) uses enterprise automotive software engagements pricing. Oxalis Design uses project-based electronics and embedded engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Elektrobit (EB) or Oxalis Design?
Elektrobit (EB) is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Elektrobit (EB) and Oxalis Design?
Elektrobit (EB)'s primary differentiator is: ASIL D-certified automotive software running in more than 600 million vehicles as a Continental subsidiary. Oxalis Design's primary differentiator is: founder-led two-person leadership team focused solely on electronics and embedded firmware, no broader IT practice attached. They also differ in team size (1,000–5,000 vs 2–10), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Automotive vs Medical devices, Consumer electronics).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.