Tata Elxsi, a leading provider of engineering and design services, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Synopsys, a prominent name in chip-to-system design technologies, to jointly deliver cutting-edge solutions for the automotive sector. The agreement was formalized during the SNUG India 2025 conference in Bengaluru, with senior leadership from both organizations present.
The partnership is aimed at offering ready-to-use, integrated solutions for virtual electronic control units (vECUs)—a vital component in the evolving landscape of software-driven mobility. By combining Tata Elxsi’s strengths in embedded systems and software integration with Synopsys’ advanced virtualization technologies, the two companies aim to simplify development cycles, lower costs, and improve software reliability for global automakers and Tier 1 suppliers.
The collaboration is already supporting several international programs, focusing on areas like software initialization, BSP (board support package) integration, and early-stage system validation. These efforts span critical vehicle domains including powertrain, body electronics, chassis, gateway systems, and centralized computing units. By simulating real-world conditions early in the development cycle, customers can test software without depending heavily on physical prototypes, speeding up project timelines and reducing risk.
Looking ahead, Tata Elxsi and Synopsys plan to broaden their focus to include electronic system digital twins—virtual models of complex ECU networks—to support various automotive applications and large-scale system testing.
“This collaboration addresses the rapid shift in vehicle development methods,” noted Sundar Ganapathi, Chief Technology Officer – Automotive at Tata Elxsi. “OEMs are moving away from traditional hardware-dependent models and seeking integrated engineering and simulation environments. This partnership brings that vision to life with both scale and deep industry insight.”
Marc Serughetti, Vice President of Product Management and Markets at Synopsys, added, “As the automotive industry embraces software-first approaches, there’s a strong need for comprehensive virtualization capabilities from chip to full vehicle systems. Our expertise in creating digital twins for automotive electronics, combined with Tata Elxsi’s large-scale engineering know-how, will help make virtual ECUs more accessible and practical, driving faster and more reliable software development.” The alliance marks a significant step toward redefining how modern vehicles are developed, tested, and brought to market—focusing on flexibility, early validation, and reduced time-to-launch.
Tata Elxsi is a global technology and design firm delivering R&D and engineering services across automotive, broadcast, healthcare, communications, and mobility sectors. The company supports global OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers with expertise spanning autonomous driving, connected vehicles, electric drivetrains, and software-defined architectures. With a team of over 13,000 professionals, Tata Elxsi operates innovation centres and design studios worldwide.
