Technological advances in both hardware and software components have increased their strategic value in automotive. Moving away from a purely mechanical industry, where the expertise and intellectual property of traditional OEMs reside, electronics and software are becoming key assets. Consistent with this, Wards Intelligence is observing an evident trend at various levels of the automotive supply chain: strategically increasing the value of goods developed in-house through vertical integration, hence increasing control and margins while also reducing costs.

In this brief article, I will present an overview of next-generation vehicle platforms around the world.

Across the automotive supply chain, software-defined architectures appear to be following a clear path to ensure future-proof vehicles. With software architectures disrupting the traditional hardware-based automotive industry, progress in semiconductor component development is essential to consolidate and achieve the desired system simplification and cost effectiveness for the mobility industry of the future.

On Sept. 15, Arm announced a new direction in its IP and technology portfolio to address the transformation of the automotive industry whose center of gravity is rapidly moving toward software, rather than hardware, components.

It appears evident that open-software platforms are of strategic import for the new mobility era. This role is evident not only from different bodies and companies investing in them, but also the effect on regional interests that are characterizing the automotive industry lately, with counterposing economic powers trying to dominate.

Across the automotive supply chain, software-defined vehicles appear to be following a clear path to future-proof architectures. Software architectures and standardized software platforms are fundamental to simplifying vehicle functional complexity while keeping up with the pace of technology and innovation, spanning from vehicle’s implementation to the back end and infrastructure digitalization.

At the recent International Mobility Show (IAA 2021) in Munich, Germany, Renault was quite vocal about its Renault Mégane E-Tech, which has adopted Android Automotive as the entire OS for the cockpit and head unit and is powered by “omni-present” Qualcomm SoCs. Just two week later, Honda announced as well to deploy Android Automotive in an “all-new” vehicle that will be launched along 2022, piling up to the list of adopters after Polestar, Volvo, and Renault. The following is a summary of my observations and a synthesis of the feedback I received.