Best Embedded Software Development Companies

emlix vs Luxoft: full comparison for 2026

Quick verdict

emlix (4.4/5) edges ahead of Luxoft (3.8/5) overall. emlix is the better choice for industrial and safety-critical clients needing Linux depth with real team capacity. Luxoft is the stronger option for automotive OEMs needing infotainment and digital cockpit software at DXC scale. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.

emlix vs Luxoft: head-to-head summary

Criterion emlix Luxoft
Founded 2000 2000
HQ Göttingen, Germany (additional location in Munich) Zug, Switzerland
Team size 51–200 18,000
Rating 4.4 / 5 3.8 / 5
Primary differentiator Combines 20+ years of embedded Linux specialization with a 60+ engineer team large enough to run concurrent industrial programs Automotive software systems integrator with software in 50M+ vehicles, partnering with 8 of the 10 largest vehicle manufacturers, now under DXC Technology
Pricing model Fixed project, dedicated team Fixed project, dedicated team, staff augmentation
Min. engagement Not disclosed Not disclosed
Primary tech stack Embedded Linux (Yocto), C/C++, Linux kernel development Embedded Linux, Android Automotive, C/C++
Industries served Automotive, Energy, Manufacturing/Industrial IoT, Medical devices, Safety technology Automotive

emlix vs Luxoft: overview

emlix

emlix has spent more than 20 years since its 2000 founding building embedded Linux systems for German industrial, energy, automation, medical, and safety-technology clients, serving over 350 customers from its Göttingen headquarters (with an additional Munich location) and a team of 60+ engineers. What differentiates emlix from smaller Linux boutiques on this list is scale within specialization: the team is large enough to run concurrent programs across multiple industrial clients while staying entirely focused on the embedded Linux layer, rather than diversifying into electrical design, RTOS-only bare-metal work, or unrelated verticals. For a buyer specifically weighing Linux-layer depth against team capacity, emlix sits between the smallest one-focus boutiques and the generalist engineering conglomerates.

Luxoft

Luxoft, founded in 2000, became a recognized automotive software systems integrator before DXC Technology acquired it in 2019, and the firm now operates as DXC Luxoft from Zug, Switzerland with nearly 18,000 people across 44 cities. DXC states its automotive software already powers over 50 million vehicles and that DXC partners with 8 of the world's 10 largest vehicle manufacturers, and the recently announced AMBER in-vehicle infotainment platform is a concrete signal of continued product investment post-acquisition. For a buyer, the practical question is whether pre-acquisition Luxoft's automotive specialization survived the integration into DXC's much larger enterprise IT portfolio — worth asking directly rather than assuming from the brand name alone.

Services and capabilities: emlix vs Luxoft

Capability emlix Luxoft
RTOS firmware development
Embedded Linux (Yocto/BuildRoot)
FPGA programming (Verilog/VHDL)
Hardware & PCB / electrical engineering
IoT connectivity & protocols
Edge AI / on-device ML
Embedded GUI development
Cybersecurity & secure boot
Staff augmentation / team extension

Tech stack comparison: emlix vs Luxoft

Framework / platform emlix Luxoft
FreeRTOS N/A N/A
Zephyr N/A N/A
Embedded Linux
AUTOSAR N/A
AWS N/A N/A
Bluetooth N/A N/A
LoRaWAN N/A N/A
CAN bus N/A N/A
Qt N/A N/A
Verilog N/A N/A

Pricing comparison: emlix vs Luxoft

Criterion emlix Luxoft
Minimum engagement Not disclosed Not disclosed
Engagement models Fixed project, Dedicated team Fixed project, Dedicated team, Staff augmentation
Rate transparency Not public Not public
Price tier Mid-market Mid-market

Target audience comparison: emlix vs Luxoft

Dimension emlix Luxoft
Best company size Startup to mid-market Startup to mid-market
Best industries Automotive, Energy, Manufacturing/Industrial IoT Automotive
Best use cases Industrial machines needing long-term-supported embedded Linux BSPs across multiple concurrent product lines, Safety-technology products requiring deep Linux kernel expertise at team scale rather than a single-consultant boutique In-vehicle infotainment and digital cockpit programs needing Android Automotive expertise, OEM programs wanting a systems integrator already partnered with major vehicle manufacturers
Typical project type Fixed project Fixed project

emlix vs Luxoft: pros and cons

emlix
+ Over 350 customers served across two decades, with a customer base weighted toward German industrial, energy, and safety-critical sectors
+ 60+ engineer team gives more concurrent-program capacity than the smallest boutique embedded Linux specialists
+ Long-term maintenance is an explicit specialty, relevant to industrial clients with multi-decade product support commitments
- Focus is Linux-only — teams needing bare-metal RTOS-only work or electrical/PCB design will need to pair emlix with a second vendor
- German-market weighting in its customer base may mean less direct experience navigating non-EU regulatory environments
- No published pricing tiers — engagement cost requires a direct scoping conversation
Luxoft
+ Automotive software deployed in over 50 million vehicles, with partnerships across 8 of the world's 10 largest vehicle manufacturers
+ Recently announced AMBER in-vehicle infotainment platform demonstrates continued product investment post-DXC acquisition
+ Nearly 18,000-person international workforce across 44 cities supports globally distributed OEM programs
- Acquired by DXC Technology in 2019 — confirm directly whether pre-acquisition Luxoft's automotive specialization has been preserved inside DXC's much larger enterprise IT portfolio
- Automotive-only embedded focus means no relevant track record outside the automotive vertical
- No public pricing or minimum engagement figures published

Who should choose emlix?

A typical fit: industrial machines needing long-term-supported embedded Linux BSPs across multiple concurrent product lines.

Combines 20+ years of embedded Linux specialization with a 60+ engineer team large enough to run concurrent industrial programs. Minimum engagement starts at Not disclosed. Works best with clients in Automotive, Energy, Manufacturing/Industrial IoT, Medical devices, Safety technology.

Who should choose Luxoft?

A typical fit: in-vehicle infotainment and digital cockpit programs needing Android Automotive expertise.

Automotive software systems integrator with software in 50M+ vehicles, partnering with 8 of the 10 largest vehicle manufacturers, now under DXC Technology. Minimum engagement starts at Not disclosed. Works best with clients in Automotive.

Decision matrix: emlix vs Luxoft

Your situation Recommended choice
You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope emlix
You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme emlix
Your budget is at the lower end Compare: emlix (Not disclosed) vs Luxoft (Not disclosed)
You need specialist depth in a specific vertical emlix
You need staff augmentation or team extension Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug
You need consulting before committing to a build emlix

Use case fit: emlix vs Luxoft

Use case emlix fit Luxoft fit Winner
Industrial machines needing long-term-supported embedded Linux BSPs across multiple concurrent product lines Strong Limited emlix
Safety-technology products requiring deep Linux kernel expertise at team scale rather than a single-consultant boutique Strong Limited emlix
In-vehicle infotainment and digital cockpit programs needing Android Automotive expertise Limited Strong Luxoft
OEM programs wanting a systems integrator already partnered with major vehicle manufacturers Limited Strong Luxoft
Fixed-price build Limited Limited Both equally
Staff augmentation Limited Limited Both equally

Verdict: emlix vs Luxoft

emlix (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Embedded Software Development projects. Combines 20+ years of embedded Linux specialization with a 60+ engineer team large enough to run concurrent industrial programs.

Luxoft (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need OEM programs wanting a systems integrator already partnered with major vehicle manufacturers. If your situation matches that, Luxoft is a competitive option.

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emlix vs Luxoft FAQ

Is emlix better than Luxoft?

emlix (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. emlix's strongest advantage: over 350 customers served across two decades, with a customer base weighted toward German industrial, energy, and safety-critical sectors. Luxoft's strongest advantage: automotive software deployed in over 50 million vehicles, with partnerships across 8 of the world's 10 largest vehicle manufacturers.

How do emlix and Luxoft differ in pricing?

emlix uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not disclosed. Luxoft uses fixed project, dedicated team, staff augmentation pricing with a minimum engagement of Not disclosed. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.

Which is better for enterprise: emlix or Luxoft?

emlix 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 emlix and Luxoft?

emlix's primary differentiator is: combines 20+ years of embedded Linux specialization with a 60+ engineer team large enough to run concurrent industrial programs. Luxoft's primary differentiator is: automotive software systems integrator with software in 50M+ vehicles, partnering with 8 of the 10 largest vehicle manufacturers, now under DXC Technology. They also differ in team size (51–200 vs 18,000), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Automotive, Energy vs Automotive).

Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.