Industry leaders at SIAM's 65th Annual Convention explore how software-driven automotive technology will reshape India's transportation landscape through artificial intelligence integration and strategic partnerships.
11 Sep 2025 | 2055 Views | By Sarthak Mahajan
The automotive industry's shift toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs) emerged as a central theme during the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers' (SIAM) 65th Annual Convention, with industry experts outlining both opportunities and challenges for India's mobility sector.
The Special Plenary Session 2, titled "Embracing the Future: Strategic Development and Market ...
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The automotive industry's shift toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs) emerged as a central theme during the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers' (SIAM) 65th Annual Convention, with industry experts outlining both opportunities and challenges for India's mobility sector.
The Special Plenary Session 2, titled "Embracing the Future: Strategic Development and Market Integration of Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs) in India," brought together global technology leaders and automotive specialists to discuss the transformative potential of software-driven transportation solutions.
Session Chairman Rajan Wadhera, Member of the Government of India's SCALE Committee and former President of SIAM, opened discussions on how software integration is reshaping vehicle architecture and market dynamics across the Indian automotive landscape.
Dr. Christopher Borroni-Bird, Founder of Afreecar USA, drew parallels between modern vehicles and smartphones, emphasizing the fundamental shift in automotive value creation. "The path to SDVs is a major disruption for automakers," he stated, highlighting how software and content increasingly determine vehicle worth rather than traditional mechanical components.
The session distinguished between connected vehicles and true software-defined vehicles, with experts noting that SDVs represent a more comprehensive integration of software systems throughout vehicle operations and user experience.
NVIDIA's Global Head of GenAI for Automotive, Sri Subramanian, addressed India's current position in SDV adoption, describing the country as being in a foundational phase. He emphasized generative artificial intelligence's strategic role in shaping the automotive sector, noting that "multimodality is the next frontier in GenAI-enabled content creation and content discovery."
Subramanian revealed that while 92 percent of enterprises are investing in AI technologies, only one percent have achieved mature AI deployments, suggesting significant room for growth in the Indian market.
McKinsey & Company Senior Partner Andreas Tschiesner presented market projections indicating that by 2035, approximately 30 percent of all manufactured vehicles will utilize zonal electrical/electronic architectures. He outlined how companies are accelerating SDV development through cloud-managed systems, AI-powered coding platforms, and virtual twin technology.
The presentations highlighted SDVs' potential to enhance vehicle safety, efficiency, and user experience while creating new business models and collaboration opportunities between original equipment manufacturers and technology companies.
Industry experts identified several key challenges facing SDV implementation in India, including infrastructure requirements, regulatory frameworks, and the need for skilled technical workforce development. However, they emphasized that these challenges are accompanied by substantial opportunities for innovation and market growth.
The convention discussions reflected broader global trends toward digitalization in transportation, with software capabilities increasingly differentiating vehicle offerings and creating new revenue streams through over-the-air updates and services.
SIAM, established as the apex national body representing major vehicle and engine manufacturers in India, continues to focus on activities supporting environmental improvement, safety enhancement, and industry efficiency development across the automotive sector.