initiating a standby mode of the runtime environment, by a state management module of the runtime environment, in which the operation of the runtime environment is suspended, as a function of a stop request from an external coordination unit if an ignition-off signal for switching off an electrical system of the motor vehicle is generated in the motor vehicle, wherein a predetermined buffer time period is waited out by the external coordination unit after detection of the ignition-off signal, and the stop request is transmitted only if an ignition-on signal is absent within the predetermined buffer time period,

as a function of the stop request, sending out a respective backup request, by the state management module, to the at least one application, which backup request requests the respective application to store respective predetermined runtime data in a non-volatile data memory,

after the backup request has been sent out, checking for a predetermined waiting time period, by the state management module, whether a predetermined resume request is received from the coordination unit,

if the resume request is not received within the waiting time period, sending a deactivation request, by the state management module, to the respective application, which deactivation request requests the respective application to deactivate at least one predetermined functionality requiring normal operation, and thereinafter the runtime environment is switched over from the normal operation mode to the standby mode, and

if the resume request is received within the waiting time period, continuing the normal operation mode without switching over to the standby mode.