The CODE4EV project aims to accelerate the development of electric software-defined vehicles (SDVs) by establishing a collaborative development framework. This framework will support the design, production and operational phases of electric vehicles (EVs) by demonstrating its application through selected Use Cases relevant to emerging and future SDV architectures. The project key objectives include the elaboration of digital design tools and a trustworthy development methodology for electric SDVs, improving the efficiency and reliability of SDV architecture component sharing, and accelerating validation processes. The project also focuses on the implementation of a model-based design, the development of a symbolic ontology knowledge database, and the migration from rapid prototyping environments to automotive SW environments to improve development processes and compliance with industry standards. In addition, CODE4EV aims to provide multi-layered benefits throughout the design, production and operational phases of EVs. This includes methods for defining the SDV architecture, real-time runtime virtualisation approaches, and developing modular HW architectures to optimise data usage. The project Use Cases will demonstrate the implementation of the collaborative development framework, such as data-driven EV optimisation, health monitoring and predictive maintenance, and smart motion control. These Use Cases aim to demonstrate improvements in energy consumption, component life extension and overall vehicle performance. CODE4EV plans to develop virtual, hybrid and full-scale demonstrators of electric SDVs for different vehicle categories, focusing on efficient verification procedures and the evaluation of the scalability of the CODE4EV approach. These efforts aim to ensure compatibility and efficiency for a range of vehicle types, including heavy-duty trucks and L-class EVs, thereby making an important contribution to the promotion of zero-emission mobility solutions.