At the 65th Annual Convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Special Plenary Session 2, titled “Embracing the Future: Strategic Development and Market Integration of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) in India,” focused on the transformative potential of software-driven vehicles in accelerating sustainable mobility across the country.
The session began with opening remarks by the Session Chairman, Mr. Rajan Wadhera, Member of the SCALE Committee, Government of India, Former President – Automotive Sector at Mahindra & Mahindra, and Former President of SIAM.
Dr. Christopher Borroni-Bird, Founder of Afreecar, USA, delivered a compelling presentation on “Risks, Challenges, and Benefits of SDVs and What This Could Mean for the Indian Mobility Market.” He explored public perceptions of technology—ranging from apprehension to enthusiasm—and drew parallels between software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and smartphones in terms of their evolving functionality and user experience.
Dr. Borroni-Bird clarified the distinction between connected vehicles and SDVs and delved into the challenges and opportunities these advanced vehicles present. He emphasized how software and digital content are increasingly dominating the value of modern vehicles. Underscoring the significance of this transformation, he remarked, “The path to SDVs is a major disruption for automakers.”
Mr. Sri Subramanian, Global Head of GenAI for Automotive, NVIDIA, presented on “GenAI and SDVs: Powering India’s Vision for Safer, Smarter Mobility.” He said, “India is currently in a foundational phase of adopting SDVs. Generative AI is not simply another tool; it is a strategic enabler that is fundamentally shaping the Indian automotive sector. Multimodality is the next frontier in GenAI-enabled content creation and content discovery. While 92% of enterprises are investing in AI, only 1% of them have mature AI deployments.”
Mr. Andreas Tschiesner, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company, Germany, presented on “Evolution of Software-Defined Vehicles, Market Trends and Their Impact on OEM Collaboration and New Business Models.” He discussed how software-defined vehicles are revolutionizing the automotive value chain, stating, “In 2035, we expect 30% of all produced vehicles will be built on zonal E/E architectures. Companies are leveraging cloud-managed development, AI-powered coding, and virtual twin technology to accelerate SDV development.”
 in India, highlighting their crucial role in driving sustainable mobility. The session was opened by Mr. Rajan Wadhera, Member of the SCALE Committee, Government of India, and Former President of both Mahindra’s Automotive Sector and SIAM.){kind=link}