Abstract: The technology of Automotive Open System Architecture(AUTOSAR), a new standard of software development for automotive electronic systems, which consists of architecture, methodology and application interfaces, was analyzed. AUTOSAR architecture is designed with a hierarchical structure consisting of application software components(SW-Cs), virtual functional bus(VFB) / runtime environment(RTE), and basic software(BSW) stack of electronic control unit(ECU). AUTOSAR methodology is used to construct the architecture of automotive electronic system from the formal description of software and hardware components. Furthermore, the research and application progresses in phase Ⅰ and Ⅱ were summarized, and the outlook of phase Ⅲ was given. In addition, a proposal of introduction of AUTOSAR standard into automotive electronics related enterprises in China was put forward.