The auto industry’s software desires will continue to grow amid increased deliveries of electric cars and the progression of electronic systems, an official at French supplier Forvia said.
“Compared to 20 years ago, the capacity of the system itself has vastly improved,” Jean Lorchat, director of software as a product for Nanterre, France-based Forvia, said in an interview.
“Connectivity is now economically and technically affordable for cars. . . Fifteen years ago, I was in Japan to connect my car to the network and I didn’t know how I would do it. Today, he added: “It is understandable that your car will be connected somehow. People expect it.
Cars have added so-called infotainment functions and have touch screens. Electric cars also increase the need for software. The same goes for self-driving cars.
Forvia in the past seven years has acquired seven companies with automotive software expertise and products. The company has created a global business unit for software development. Lorchat oversees the development of Forvia software products from the idea stage to market introduction.
With electric vehicles, “you want more software to drive the electric powertrain,” he said. “This means that software needs are increasing. “
But that is not the only explanation for the increase in demand for software, the executive said.
“There are other points at stake that tend to get worse,” Lorchat said. “If you have more capability but it’s not handled through traditionally mechanical and electrical parts, that means ‘software comes into play more. ‘
Auto software engineers and designers also have to take harsh conditions into account. Vehicles travel in very hot and very cold conditions.
“Conditions are extreme,” Lorchat said. “We have to rank the risks by how likely they are to happen. The safety goals are on each piece of software.”
Forvia’s acquisitions are targeted at increasing the company’s automotive expertise, the executive said.
“In terms of strategy, it’s very important,” he said.
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