Pune-based KPIT Technologies, a software-integation partner to the automotive and mobility ecosystem for accelerating vehicle manufacturers' drive towards software-defined vehicles (SDVs), has announced its partnership with Honda to help accelerate the Japanese automaker’s Software-Defined Mobility (SDM) programme.

With Honda's next-generation software architecture and control-safety technology and KPIT's deep domain and software expertise in the areas of autonomous driving, vehicle electrification, in-vehicle infotainment systems and platform software, Honda will continue to provide various services and enhanced value to customers around the world in the future.

According to Kishor Patil, CEO, KPIT Technologies, "KPIT's vision is to reimagine mobility to create a cleaner, smarter and safer world. Honda is an iconic brand and deeply aspirational across the globe. KPIT has worked closely with Honda for the last eight years. It has been a relationship of trust and mutual respect. The partnership in mid to long term will expand to over 2,000 software and vehicle system professionals from KPIT across the globe to power Honda's SDM roadmap until year 2030 and beyond."

Sachin Tikekar, president and joint managing director, KPIT Technologies, added: "Honda is well respected for its DNA of innovation, excellence, and quality. KPIT echoes Honda's core principles, creating a solid foundation for a long-term, strategic partnership. Our broad experience in developing SDV roadmaps for several industry leading car and truck makers coupled with an ecosystem of Alliances gives us the confidence to create something unique for Honda."

At CES 2023 in January, KPIT showcased its software technology roadmap for software-defined vehicles.(Image: KPIT Technologies/Twitter)

KPIT’s strategic advance towards SDVs

KPIT has, in the recent past, made strategic moves to be on top of the global megatrend of software-defined vehicles (SDVs).

With an aim to become a one-stop shop for the automotive industry which is witnessing the shift towards SDVs, in September 2022, KPIT acquired the Munich-headquartered Technica Engineering. Technica, which has 600 engineers on its rolls, specialises in production-ready system prototyping (combination of network system architecture, hardware prototyping, integration), automotive ethernet products, and tools for validation. The KPIT-Technica combine is designed to create across-the-stack expertise offering and enable vehicle manufacturers to migrate rapidly towards SDVs by speeding up prototyping and software access, and reducing workflow complexities.

In November 2022, KPIT was chosen by the Renault Group as its strategic software scaling partner for its next-generation SDV programmes. The French carmaker is making significant investments and strategic partnerships to develop an industry-leading SDV platform. KPIT’s software scope in the SDV programs will encompass contributions for ADAS, chassis, body electronics, platforms, systems engineering, and vehicle validation. KPIT is to globally deploy over 600 engineers, multiple software IPs, and platforms on the Renault project.

Recognising the fast-blooming potential of the global SDV market In January, KPIT unveiled its holistic software technology roadmap for SDVs at the Consumer Electronics Show 2023 in Las Vegas earlier this year. The company’s SDV roadmap comprises technology solutions that address three major areas:

- Establishing the E/E infrastructure and technology stack,
- Bringing scale to production through technology, and
- Creating a digital customer experience and monetising across vehicle lifecycle.