Automotive software is critical to the auto industry’s future and evolving fast, posing a challenge for how software vendors match their technology to auto manufacturers’ needs.

Prashant Gulati, CEO, SDVerse

Yesterday, the B2B marketplace SDVerse launched to better match automotive engineers with the latest software offering the complex set of features and attributes that meets their automotive designs, says CEO Prashant Gulati, asserting that it “aims to revolutionize the automotive software sourcing and procurement process.”

In March, the General Motors Co. joined global automotive contract manufacturer Magna International and management consulting firm Wipro Limited to develop SDVerse as a B2B online “matchmaking” marketplace platform for buyers and sellers of automotive software. Among its core goals: providing “transparency of software offerings and capabilities for buyers while offering an industry wide commercial platform for automotive software for sellers.”

SDVerse operates on an annual subscription fee model. Once buyers and sellers connect on SDVerse, they complete negotiations and financial transactions outside of SDVerse, a spokeswoman says.

GM sees SDVerse addressing software market challenges

Dan Nicholson, GM’s vice president, strategic technology initiatives, says SDVerse addresses the challenge automotive software vendors face in providing auto manufacturers innovative and helpful products at a time when automotive software development is rapidly transforming.

“This first-ever software marketplace creates an independent, industry-driven one-stop-shop for embedded systems software, significantly expanding access to new innovations, helping to drive down cost, and allowing companies like GM to implement critical software more quickly,” he says. Nicholson is also on the board of the Center for Automotive Research, a nonprofit organization that addresses critical issues facing the automotive industry.

“The market for automotive software is expected to nearly double this decade, potentially outpacing the growth of software development talent pools,” says Harmeet Chauhan, global head of Wipro Engineering Edge, Wipro Limited. “The current paradigm for software sourcing will likely not be able to overcome this growing gap without sacrificing both profitability and the auto industry’s aspirations for software defined vehicles. SDVerse addresses these pain points, offering a wide range of benefits across the industry.”

Joerg Grotendorst, senior vice president, corporate R&D, at Magna, says his company’s “participation in SDVerse is driven by our ongoing commitment to foster collaboration and drive the automotive industry forward. By embracing this innovative platform, we aim to create a more interconnected ecosystem that encourages OEMs, suppliers, and specialty software developers to collaborate and co-create cutting-edge solutions.”

The companies behind SDVerse

GM, Magna, and Wipro collectively designed and developed SDVerse, which they will govern as founding members. SDVerse adds that global strategy consultant Roland Berger has served as the project’s strategic advisor since its inception. In addition, SDVerse kicked off with the support of several “Launch Partners” from the automotive and software industries: Ampere, FEV, Forvia, HL Mando, NXP Semiconductors, TTTech Autdo and Valeo.

Jeff Walker, chief commercial officer, SDVerse

SDVerse recently appointed former Bosch executive Jeff Walker as chief commercial officer. He will lead the marketplace company’s global commercial strategy, “driving partnerships, sales and market expansion to position the company as the go-to platform for OEMs, suppliers and developers in the rapidly evolving automotive software space,” SDVerse announced last month.

Walker, with more than 30 years in automotive and engineering roles, held senior leadership positions at technology companies Robert Bosch and ZF Group, working on projects for GM, Ford Motor, Stellantis, BMW, Honda, Toyota and other automakers. At Bosch, Walker at Bosch, Jeff served in executive roles in engineering and sales, “overseeing a broad portfolio of technologies including ICE and EV powertrains, connected services and advanced braking and chassis controls,” SDVerse says.

Cummins Inc., a manufacturer of engines and other power systems, joined SDVerse this summer as a Premier Partner.

Joan Wills, executive director of software and electronics engineering at Cummins Components and Software, says SDVerse will help Cummins and other technology companies meet the growing demand for automotive software.

“Joining SDVerse represents a step forward in our dedication to advancing automotive capabilities,” she says. “By leveraging the SDVerse ecosystem, we are expecting to substantially reduce the time and effort required to implement capabilities of connected vehicles and deliver even greater value to our customers.”

SDVerse says its software marketplace is exclusively for vehicle software (embedded and cloud versions) and development tools. “However, participants don’t need to be automotive focused as long as they have relevant software offerings,” SDVerse says.

Paul Demery is a Digital Commerce 360 contributing editor covering B2B digital commerce technology and strategy. [email protected].

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