The second Special Plenary Session at the 65th Annual Convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) focused on the strategic development and market integration of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) in India, emphasizing their role in shaping the future of sustainable mobility. The session was chaired by Rajan Wadhera, Member of the SCALE Committee, Government of India, and former President of the Automotive Sector at Mahindra & Mahindra, as well as a former President of SIAM.
Dr Christopher Borroni-Bird, Founder of Afreecar (USA), gave a presentation titled “Risks, Challenges, and Benefits of SDVs and What This Means for the Indian Mobility Market.” He explored the mixed attitudes towards technology, including both enthusiasm and skepticism, and drew parallels between SDVs and smartphones. He clarified the distinction between connected vehicles and SDVs and discussed the significant role of software and content in transforming vehicle value. He noted, “The path to SDVs represents a major disruption for automakers.”
Sri Subramanian, Global Head of GenAI for Automotive at NVIDIA, delivered a talk on “GenAI and SDVs: Powering India’s Vision for Safer, Smarter Mobility.” He emphasized that India is in the early stages of adopting SDVs and that generative AI is not just another tool, but a key enabler driving change in the automotive sector. “Multimodality is the next frontier in GenAI-enabled content creation and discovery,” he said. “While 92% of enterprises are investing in AI, only 1% have fully deployed mature AI systems.”
Andreas Tschiesner, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company (Germany), presented on “The Evolution of Software-Defined Vehicles, Market Trends, and Their Impact on OEM Collaboration and New Business Models.” He highlighted how SDVs are reshaping the automotive value chain and predicted that by 2035, 30% of vehicles produced will be based on zonal E/E architectures. “Companies are utilizing cloud-managed development, AI-powered coding, and virtual twin technologies to fast-track SDV development,” he added.
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) is a leading national body representing all major vehicle and engine manufacturers in India. It is a charitable organization registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. SIAM’s mission is to promote the growth and development of the Indian automobile industry, assist manufacturers in fulfilling their social obligations, and improve industry efficiency. The society also focuses on environmental sustainability and the safety of vehicle users and the general public. SIAM is recognized as an institution with charitable purposes under the Income Tax Act of 1961.
