By T. Murrali
The automotive world is on the brink of a major transformation. The year 2025 is set to witness the large-scale launch of Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs) across global markets — vehicles that promise smarter performance, adaptability, and deeply personalised user experiences.
Delivering the inaugural address at the Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) Summit 2025, organised by Aayera and supported by ARAI, Kaushik Madhavan, Vice President & Global Head – Consulting (Automotive & Transportation) at MarketsandMarkets, said that most OEMs are currently focused on Level 2 systems, with Level 3 capabilities firmly in their development roadmap — particularly among European manufacturers.
Mr. Madhavan explained that the levels of SDV maturity define the extent of software standardisation within the vehicle. As SDVs evolve, they enable common middleware, APIs, and over-the-air (OTA) updates, which improve interoperability, reduce development complexity, and simplify regulatory compliance across the industry.
He noted that digital cockpits and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are advancing in tandem with SDV development, becoming key focus areas for automakers. Tier-1 suppliers, too, are repositioning themselves to tap into the expanding SDV ecosystem — evolving from traditional mechanical and embedded domains to mastering the separation and collaboration of hardware and software streams.
“As the SDV era takes shape, we may soon see Tier-1 suppliers redefining their roles as Tier 0.5 players,” Mr. Madhavan observed, highlighting a shift that could reshape automotive value chains for years to come.
In his keynote address, Brahmanand Patil, President & MD of Vector Informatik India, explained that SDVs mark a fundamental shift from hardware-driven machines to intelligent, upgradeable platforms. Built on modular and flexible architectures, SDVs allow automakers to add new features—like ADAS or infotainment upgrades—through software updates rather than hardware changes.
Mr. Patil emphasised that this transformation is gradual and requires bridging traditional mechatronic systems with the emerging world of high-performance computing, AI, and connected services. The focus, he said, must shift from fixed capabilities at launch to continuous software evolution throughout the vehicle’s life.
At the heart of SDVs is a new E/E architecture built around high-performance computers, zonal controllers, and secure middleware that connects the vehicle to the cloud. Unlike conventional design approaches that optimise cost at launch, future-ready vehicles must include spare computing capacity for ongoing updates.
He added that the “software factory” model—combining model-based design, continuous integration, and automated testing—is key to managing this complexity. It enables faster innovation, seamless collaboration, and regular feature deployment across vehicle programmes.
The shift also demands new skills and tighter collaboration between OEMs, Tier-1s, and software partners. A strong example, Patil noted, is Mahindra’s “MAYA” platform, built with Vector Informatik India. Based on adaptive AUTOSAR, it supports secure updates and real-time feature rollouts, validated through hardware-in-loop testing even before ECUs arrived—showcasing how agile engineering is shaping India’s SDV future.
Among the key highlights were two insightful presentations — “Impact of Code Generation on Automotive Software Development” by Aravind Doss, Vice President – Software India & APAC, Stellantis, and “Overcoming the 10 Adoption Challenges for SDV with vECUs” by Karthick Gururaj, Chief Architect and CTO, ESL Vayavya Labs.
The summit also featured five thought-provoking panel discussions:
• “Enabling the Software-Defined Future: Policy, Regulation & Collaboration,” moderated by Mr. Kaushik Madhavan.
• “Rethinking Vehicle Architecture for the Software-Defined Era,” moderated by Mr. Murrali Thalor, Associate Editor – Automotive Vertical, MOTORINDIA.
• “Over-the-Air and Software Lifecycle Management,” moderated by Mr. Kiran Kumar Kulkarni, Global Industry Manager – MATHWORKS.
• “AI, Data and Autonomous Capabilities in SDVs,” moderated by Mr. Thiyagarajan Subramani, Engineering Group Manager – Radar Perception, AUMOVIO.
• “The Software-Defined Cockpit & UX Evolution,” moderated by Dr. Anand Lakshmanan, Senior Project Advisor, Centre of Excellence for Advanced Automotive Research (CAAR).
The summit also featured key insights from ARAI and Magnus Liljeqvist of Coretura AB. Their discussions delved into SDV architecture, validation and simulation frameworks, ADAS integration, and the pivotal role of connectivity, cloud, and cybersecurity in shaping the software-defined mobility ecosystem.
“Software-Defined Vehicles are no longer a distant vision but a present-day reality transforming the global automotive landscape,” said Mr. Syed Fareed Ahmed, Director, Aayera. “Through initiatives like the SDV Summit, our objective is to bring together global leaders, OEMs, and innovators to collaborate, exchange insights, and accelerate the transition toward software-driven mobility. We envision India playing a pivotal role in this transformation by fostering dialogue, innovation, and strong industry partnerships,” he added.
