A software framework and method for generating a vehicle information system includes a communications manager that manages data inputs and outputs between the framework and vehicle devices, a data warehouse that registers abstract versions of vehicle device data, and a display manager that controls data display on a user interface. The data in the data warehouse is stored in an abstract format, without reference to the specific protocol or platform used to obtain the data, to make the data accessible to modular applications and devices for generating a vehicle information system display.