Prashant Gulati, the CEO, participated remotely (on screen). In the center is Praveen Yalavarty, the CTO, and the third from the left is Jeff Walker, the CCO.

SDVerse, aiming to innovate automotive software sourcing, has reached its first anniversary. Now, the company seeks to enhance industry participation in this digital platform further. It plans to upgrade the platform to generate more business opportunities for sellers while providing buyers with innovative solutions and cost-saving opportunities. SDVerse is also working on expanding into the European and Asia-Pacific markets to onboard more OEMs and software companies. Recently, SDVerse visited Korea and Japan.

By | Sang Min Han_han@autoelectronics.co.kr
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In early March, SDVerse held a modest first-anniversary celebration and global workshop at its Southfield, Michigan office, using virtual connections. Shortly afterward, CTO Praveen Yalavarty and CCO Jeff Walker embarked on a four-day visit to Korea and Japan.

SDVerse is an open marketplace for automotive embedded software, initiated by GM, Magna, and Wipro. It aims to break the industry's opaque and closed practices, revolutionizing software procurement and purchasing processes for Software-Defined Vehicles(SDVs). The SDVerse platform focuses on matchmaking between buyers, such as OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, and software companies, including startups. In simple terms, sellers list their software functionalities and features on the platform, allowing buyers to search and explore a comprehensive catalog for readily available products, making the procurement process more transparent and efficient.

During the anniversary event, SDVerse shared its business and platform updates, as well as its plans for the year ahead. One of the highlights of this celebration was the participation of Bosch, the world  s largest supplier, and ETAS. Other new members included Methodica Technologies, Goodyear, and New Eagle. ETAS became the first automotive embedded system development, testing, and validation software company to join SDVerse. With expertise in middleware, simulation, validation, cybersecurity, and development tools, ETAS supports OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers in transitioning to SDVs.

Prashant Gulati, CEO of SDVerse, stated, As OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers transition to centralized computing and OTA updates, ETAS' expertise in simulation, validation, middleware, and cybersecurity aligns perfectly with high industry demand in these key areas. We are thrilled to welcome ETAS to the SDVerse ecosystem.
 
Currently, SDVerse collaborates with 330 companies, including 99 OEMs and major Tier 1 suppliers, and 37 mid-sized Tier suppliers. Among them are Korea  s HL Mando and PopcornSAR. The number of partners is expected to grow, with two OEMs reviewing contracts and more than ten major Tier suppliers in the final stages of agreement. Several new OEMs, including VinFast, have also shown strong interest.



Proven Value

One year in, has SDVerse been successful? The answer may be inferred from comments made by Heidi Peer, GM  s Head of Software, Global Purchasing, and Supply Chain:

SDVerse has proven to be a useful tool in our sourcing process. This platform allows us to identify suppliers we hadn  t considered before and expand our choices in unexpected ways. Its intuitive design seamlessly integrates into our existing workflows without requiring adjustments. As a sourcing tool, SDVerse is not only effective but also easy to use. We look forward to continuing to leverage its capabilities to meet our needs.  

This suggests that SDVerse has successfully demonstrated its value in making automotive software development more transparent, independent, and efficient.

Before the official launch in March 2024, SDVerse planned features such as software product listing (catalog), detailed product information, product search, product comparison, matchmaking, and marketplace analysis (currently done manually). The actual launch in September included additional features such as product bookmarking, bulk product import, upselling and cross-selling capabilities, active sales team participation (Product Activator), secure messaging, an official inquiry system, an Inquiry Approver role for buyers, and single-account login for both buyers and sellers.
These enhancements were largely driven by feedback collected through biweekly meetings with key partner OEM GM, advisory boards, and focus groups. Senior GM members actively participated in group discussions, contributing significantly to SDVerse  s evolution. GM is highly committed to SDVerse, even inviting the platform to its ESSC Town Hall event in February to present SDVerse  s vision and goals to over 130 suppliers. GM plans to adopt SDVerse as a core software procurement tool.

Other partners also recognize SDVerse  s value. NXP, as a chipmaker, automotive software vendor, and potential buyer, is evaluating co-development and pre-integration opportunities to address customer needs while expanding SDVerse usage across its automotive product portfolio. FEV, an early partner, utilizes SDVerse to provide the best solutions to global customers while enhancing its visibility and reach. Cummins highlights SDVerse  s use cases in helping companies comply with evolving regulations in the automotive software industry.







Time to Expand Further

SDVerse offers several key benefits:  
Cost, Time, and Complexity Reduction: Eliminating redundant efforts, reusing pre-developed software, and bundling software orders across multiple customers to achieve economies of scale.   Enhanced Software Quality: Focusing on high-quality software validated through testing cycles and adopting a free-market approach to improving vehicle quality.   Optimized Resource Allocation: Enabling OEMs and suppliers to drive innovation in areas that enhance driver and passenger experiences while minimizing development time.   Increased Seller Revenue: Expanding customer bases and generating revenue opportunities by leveraging existing intellectual property.   A New Approach to Software Procurement: Allowing companies to source software separately from hardware and offering a compelling alternative to OEM in-house software development.

To take SDVerse to the next level, the platform aims to expand its data analytics and insights capabilities, user experience, and AI-driven functionalities while pursuing global expansion. To grow its ecosystem, SDVerse has actively participated in major conferences such as CES, the Global Leadership Conference (GLC), SAE International, The Autonomous, COVESA, MBS, and Automotive IQ. Additionally, SDVerse has worked with leading media outlets, including Automotive News, Motor Trend, Automotive World, Forbes, and this publication, to enhance industry visibility and encourage participation.

To further increase participation in the platform, SDVerse plans to create more business opportunities for sellers while helping buyers access innovative solutions and cost-saving opportunities. To strengthen its recognition, influence, and thought leadership in the automotive industry, SDVerse is focusing on geographic expansion into the European and Asia-Pacific markets to onboard more OEMs and software companies.