Draft:Software-Defined Vehicle

Draft article not currently submitted for review.

This is a draft Articles for creation (AfC) submission. It is not currently pending review. While there are no deadlines, abandoned drafts may be deleted after six months. To edit the draft click on the "Edit" tab at the top of the window.

To be accepted, a draft should:

Show the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article by using multiple sources that meet four criteria. The sources should be (1) reliable (2) secondary (3) independent of the subject (4) talk about the subject in some depth. For some topics, there are alternative criteria.
Be written from a neutral point of view
Respect copyright and do not plagiarize. Do not copy-paste.

It is strongly discouraged to write about yourself, your business or employer. If you do so, you must declare it.

Where to get help

If you need help editing or submitting your draft, please ask us a question at the AfC Help Desk or get live help from experienced editors. These venues are only for help with editing and the submission process, not to get reviews.
If you need feedback on your draft, or if the review is taking a lot of time, you can try asking for help on the talk page of a relevant WikiProject. Some WikiProjects are more active than others so a speedy reply is not guaranteed.

How to improve a draft

Wikipedia:Contributing to Wikipedia – a basic overview on how to edit Wikipedia.
Help:Wikitext – how to use the markup
Help:Referencing for beginners – how to include references
Wikipedia:Article development – how to develop your article
Wikipedia:Writing better articles – how to improve your article
Wikipedia:Verifiability – make sure your article includes reliable third-party sources

You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article.

Improving your odds of a speedy review

To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags.

Add tags to your draft

Editor resources

Easy tools: Citation bot (help) | Advanced: Fix bare URLs

Last edited by Qwerfjkl (bot) (talk | contribs) 3 days ago. (Update)

Submit the draft for review!

A Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) is a motor vehicle in which the majority of its functionality, capabilities, and user experiences are enabled and controlled by software, rather than traditional hardware components. In contrast to conventional vehicles—where systems such as engine control, braking, infotainment, and navigation are managed by separate, hardware-specific electronic control units (ECUs)—SDVs utilize centralized computing platforms and abstract hardware via software layers, allowing dynamic updates and reconfiguration over the lifespan of the vehicle.

Overview

The SDV paradigm signifies a shift in the automotive industry, where the vehicle becomes a dynamic digital platform capable of continuous evolution through software updates. This transformation enables the deployment of new features, performance improvements, bug fixes, and security patches after the vehicle is sold, akin to updates in smartphones and computers.

Key to the SDV concept is the decoupling of hardware and software. Manufacturers develop vehicles with modular architectures, where software can interact with various hardware components via standardized interfaces, facilitating upgrades and compatibility across models and generations.

Architecture

SDVs rely on high-performance computing systems that consolidate previously distributed ECUs into centralized domain controllers or even a single vehicle computer. These systems often run real-time operating systems (RTOS) alongside general-purpose OSes such as Linux or Android Automotive.

Typical SDV architecture includes:

Vehicle Operating System (vOS): A foundational software layer that manages hardware abstraction, communication, scheduling, and security.
Middleware: Enables interoperability between applications and hardware or between multiple software components.
Cloud Integration: Allows remote management, data analytics, diagnostics, and software deployment over-the-air (OTA).
Digital Twin Technology: Maintains a virtual replica of the vehicle in the cloud for simulation, diagnostics, and predictive maintenance.

Key Features

Over-the-Air Updates (OTA): Allows remote installation of software upgrades without visiting a service center.
Feature Unlocking and Monetization: Offers optional features on demand, such as enhanced driving modes or infotainment apps.
Personalization: Enables user profiles, settings, and preferences to be stored in the cloud and transferred between vehicles.
Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS): Software-defined perception, decision-making, and control capabilities for semi-autonomous or fully autonomous driving.
Telematics and Connectivity: Real-time communication with external networks, including cellular, Wi-Fi, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X).

Advantages

Flexibility and Adaptability: Features can be added or modified post-sale, extending the value of the vehicle.
Shorter Development Cycles: Modular software development allows rapid prototyping, testing, and deployment.
Cost Efficiency: Consolidating hardware components can reduce physical complexity and manufacturing costs.
Enhanced Security: Faster response to cybersecurity threats through software patches.
Sustainability: Software updates can optimize performance and energy usage, extending vehicle life.

Challenges

Cybersecurity Risks: Connectivity and centralized systems make SDVs more vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring updates comply with safety regulations across multiple regions.
Complexity in Software Testing: High levels of integration require extensive validation to avoid software faults in safety-critical systems.
Data Privacy Concerns: Continuous data collection raises concerns over user consent and data usage.
Legacy Systems Compatibility: Integrating older mechanical or electronic systems with modern software poses challenges.

Industry Adoption

Major automotive manufacturers and technology companies are investing heavily in SDV platforms. Companies such as Tesla, General Motors, Ford, Volkswagen, Toyota, and Hyundai have announced initiatives to transition to software-centric development. Collaborations with technology firms like Google, Apple, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm have led to the emergence of software ecosystems tailored for vehicles.

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been a driving force in SDV adoption due to their relatively simpler mechanical systems and greater reliance on electronics and software.

Future Outlook

The software-defined vehicle is expected to become the dominant paradigm in the automotive industry over the next decade. As vehicles evolve into connected, intelligent, and autonomous platforms, software will increasingly define the driver experience, maintenance patterns, and even vehicle monetization models.

SDVs are also seen as foundational to the broader development of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms, smart cities, and integrated transportation systems, where vehicles operate as nodes in an intelligent, data-driven network.

References

Tata Elxsi and Mercedes-Benz India partner for SDV platforms, May 15, 2025 at yahoo finance