Software Defined Architectures: The Burgeoning Business Model; Cockpit of the Future: Vehicle Purpose, Segment Will Dictate Design

Next-generation E/E architectures will create new business models for automakers and suppliers. But a Wards Intelligence survey shows few see themselves as pacesetters, and there’s some uncertainty about where the best monetization opportunities are. The massive change in operations, and the associated costs, will put constraints on the timeframe and depth of the changes in infrastructure and vehicle architectures that OEMs will be able to address.

“Cockpit of the future” stirs images of giant pillar-to-pillar screens and lavish immersive user experiences. Those are coming in ultra-premium luxury EVs as soon as this year, but in the world of high-volume personal vehicles and commercial trucks, there will be many different cockpits of the future, delineated by purpose, segments and price. Many won’t have screens at all; they will be BYOD (Bring Your Own Device).