Significance of SDV adoption and the means to accomplish it

As the industry negotiates a rather disruptive shift toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs), both automakers and suppliers are deploying a mix of strategic, organizational, technological and financial approaches to ensure a smooth transition.

The architectural shift driven by implementation of the SDV is one of the most transformative changes in automotive engineering in recent times. It involves moving from a distributed, hardware-centric system to a centralized, software-defined and upgradable vehicle architecture. One of the key promises of SDVs is the ability to deliver over-the-air (OTA) software updates, introduce new functions and enable faster vehicle improvements and fixes throughout the vehicle’s life cycle via centralized compute systems that feature less wiring and fewer electronic control units (ECUs).