Synopsys and Vector Informatik Partner to Accelerate the Transition to Software-Defined Vehicles in the Automotive Industry
In a groundbreaking move set to revolutionize the automotive industry, Synopsys (Nasdaq: SNPS) and Vector Informatik have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at accelerating the transformation to software-defined vehicles (SDVs). This partnership will deliver pre-integrated solutions that combine Vector’s expertise in software factories with Synopsys’ leadership in electronics digital twins, enabling automotive companies to adopt a “shift-left” approach for software validation. This innovative strategy promises to enhance developer productivity, streamline software development, and accelerate deployment throughout the vehicle lifecycle.
The Growing Need for Agile Development in Automotive Software
The automotive industry is undergoing a seismic shift as software becomes the backbone of modern vehicles. Automakers are under mounting pressure to transition from traditional sequential design processes to agile and continuous development workflows. This shift is essential to address several critical challenges:
- Increasing Complexity: Modern vehicles are equipped with advanced features like autonomous driving, infotainment systems, and over-the-air (OTA) updates, all of which demand highly sophisticated software.
- Support for Multiple Platforms: The need to support diverse vehicle platforms and variants adds layers of complexity to software development.
- Limitations of Physical Test Benches: Physical testing is resource-intensive and unable to keep pace with the rapid evolution of software-defined systems.
- Supplier Collaboration: Simplifying collaboration with suppliers is crucial to ensure seamless integration of components and software.
To overcome these challenges, automotive companies require a comprehensive, seamless, and highly automated “shift-left” approach. By validating software earlier in the development process, they can reduce costs, improve quality, and accelerate time-to-market.
A Unified Solution for Software-Defined Vehicles
Synopsys and Vector Informatik are combining their strengths to create integrated solutions that address these challenges head-on. Their collaboration focuses on delivering tools and technologies that enable automotive companies to build efficient and scalable software factories. Key highlights of the partnership include:
- Advancing SIL Kit (System Integration Lab Kit):
The collaboration aims to enhance the open-source SIL Kit, a vital library for enabling vehicle-level digital twins. These digital twins allow developers to simulate and validate complex systems early in the design process, reducing reliance on physical prototypes and test benches. - Integration of Vector and Synopsys Tools:
The companies plan to integrate Vector’s MICROSAR embedded software and CANoe with Synopsys’ Silver and Virtualizer Development Kits (VDKs). This integration will provide ready-to-use virtual electronic control units (vECUs) for all types of ECUs within an SDV architecture. These vECUs enable developers to test and validate software in a virtual environment, significantly speeding up development cycles. - Seamless Transition from SIL to HIL:
By combining Synopsys’ virtualization solutions with Vector’s software factory capabilities, automotive organizations can scale verification and validation efforts while seamlessly transitioning from Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) to Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing. This approach ensures higher software quality and reduces costs throughout the vehicle lifecycle.
Industry Endorsement and Expert Insights
The collaboration has already garnered support from key players in the automotive ecosystem. Joachim Fetzer, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Marelli, emphasized the importance of this partnership:
“Marelli welcomes the strategic collaboration between Vector and Synopsys, as seamless integration of tools is important for an efficient and fast development process, especially with regard to the creation and use of digital twins for early simulation and validation of complex systems. We look forward to using these integrated tools to further accelerate our transition to a fully digital development environment across our electronic product portfolio.”
Tom De Schutter, Senior Vice President of Synopsys Product Management and Markets Group, highlighted the transformative potential of this collaboration:
“The transformation to software-defined vehicles requires automakers to significantly re-engineer their software development and validation methodologies and tooling to accelerate their time-to-market. Synopsys is a trusted partner to the global automotive ecosystem, with more than 50 OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers using our virtual prototyping technologies. Our leadership in enabling automotive electronics digital twins, combined with Vector’s leading automotive software tools and components expertise, improves time-to-market and efficiency throughout the vehicle lifecycle.”
Marcus Eggenberger, Vice President of Software Factory at Vector Informatik, added:
“Integrating Synopsys’ virtualization solutions enabling electronics digital twins with our Software Factory allows automotive organizations to scale up verification and validation while seamlessly transitioning from SIL to HIL. This empowers OEMs and their software suppliers to improve quality and lower costs—ultimately driving innovation in the automotive industry.”
Driving Innovation Across the Vehicle Lifecycle
The collaboration between Synopsys and Vector Informatik addresses the entire spectrum of software development and validation for SDVs. From early compliance verification to OTA updates and dynamic data collection, their solutions empower automotive companies to:
- Reduce Development Costs: By enabling early validation and minimizing reliance on physical prototypes, companies can significantly cut costs.
- Accelerate Development Iterations: Virtual prototyping and integrated tools streamline workflows, allowing faster iterations and quicker time-to-market.
- Enhance Software Quality: Comprehensive testing and validation ensure that software meets the highest standards of reliability and performance.
Why This Collaboration Matters for the Future of Mobility
The transition to software-defined vehicles represents one of the most significant shifts in the automotive industry’s history. As vehicles become increasingly reliant on software, the ability to develop, validate, and deploy software efficiently is critical for success. Synopsys and Vector Informatik’s collaboration provides the tools and methodologies needed to meet this challenge head-on.
By enabling automotive companies to adopt a “shift-left” approach, this partnership not only accelerates software development but also fosters innovation and enhances competitiveness. As the industry moves toward fully digital development environments, solutions like those offered by Synopsys and Vector Informatik will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of mobility.
