The automotive industry’s next competitive advantage may not come from scale alone, but from speed.
In this conversation with Autocar Professional, Upkar Saini, Vice President and Country Head, PTC India, explains how the rise of software-defined vehicles, AI and digital transformation is forcing OEMs and suppliers to rethink the way products are developed. According to Saini, the industry is moving away from disconnected processes towards a more integrated approach built around a strong data foundation.
He argues that as vehicle complexity increases and product cycles shorten, speed-to-market will become a key differentiator. Indian manufacturers, he says, are increasingly focused on improving manufacturing agility, integrating software more effectively and using digital technologies to accelerate product development.
The discussion also explores how AI can help organisations unlock greater value from engineering and manufacturing data, and why India is emerging as a centre of engineering excellence rather than merely a cost-effective manufacturing destination.