Software defining feature of future vehicles, report says

Electric and intelligent integration and individualization will become new trends for auto manufacturing, Securities Times reported on Wednesday.

Software Defined Vehicles, or SDV, will become core features of enterprises in enhancing market competitiveness, said Wu Song, deputy general manager of GAC Group.

Software will outweigh hardware and become the main source of a vehicle's value, accounting for 60 percent up from 10 to 30 percent, and the future of automobiles will integrate entertainment, leisure, work and travel, Wu said.

As software becomes more important and complicated, high-tech suppliers and original equipment manufacturers will fight for the lead, said Pan Jiming, general manager of SAIC Motor's planning department.

The SDV era has come, Pan said, adding automobiles are not products but a platform for services, and a technology ecosystem with high frequency of iteration is emerging.

SDV refers to future vehicles defined by software technology, with artificial intelligence at the core.

SDV consists of four components: centralized electrical and electronic architecture, which is the central hub of smart vehicles; basic software platforms for subscribing services; artificial intelligence technology, which will be the core technology to differentiate experiences with intelligent vehicles and remote refreshing Over-the-Air technology to allow the vehicle to grow, iterate and upgrade, Pan said.

China Association of Automobile Manufacturers has released data showing sales of Chinese brand vehicles reached 3.43 million units, accounting for 36 percent of total passenger vehicle sales from January to July this year.