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India's automotive industry is accelerating its transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs), prompting manufacturers and technology providers to overhaul engineering, validation and production processes, executives from Maruti Suzuki, Volvo Asia Commercial Vehicles, Euler Motors, Matter India, OPG Mobility and PTC said in a new industry discussion series. The shift enables remote feature updates, digital twins, and AI-driven testing, aligning vehicle development more closely with consumer electronics.
The move reflects a global trend where core vehicle functions are increasingly managed by software, requiring automakers to integrate over-the-air (OTA) updates, domain controllers and cloud-connected fleet systems into their platforms. In India, the transition is being driven by rising electric vehicle adoption, evolving regulatory standards for connectivity, and the need to shorten development cycles amid competitive pressure.
Legacy automakers are reconfiguring supply chains and hiring software talent to adapt existing workflows, while EV-focused firms like Euler Motors and Matter India are building software integration into their core design from inception. PTC, a digital engineering solutions provider, is supporting several firms with product lifecycle management tools essential for SDV development.
Autocar Professional, which produced the three-part series in association with PTC, featured senior leaders discussing implementation challenges specific to India's diverse vehicle segments and infrastructure constraints. Industry participants acknowledged that software capability is now a critical determinant of long-term competitiveness.
Automakers and technology partners are expected to announce further collaborations and internal restructuring in the coming months as SDV adoption accelerates, with updates to validation frameworks and workforce training programs underway.