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At this week’s IAA Mobility in Munich, HERE Technologies and AWS launched the SDV Accelerator. The CEO of HERE Technologies, Mike Nefkens, shared with FE why it can put automotive innovation on hyperspeed.

What are SDVs?

SDVs – or softwaredefined vehicles – represent a technological breakthrough in automotive development. In SDVs, vehicle features are enabled and even added through overtheair (OTA) software updates.

What’s the SDV Accelerator?

It’s a platform created by HERE Technologies and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help automotive manufacturers and suppliers speed up the development of SDVs. It combines AWS’s cloud and AI capabilities with HERE’s mapping and location technology, along with a curated collection of tools from other industry partners.

What problem does it solve?

The industry is transitioning from hardwarecentric vehicles to softwaredefined ones. But integrating complex software from different suppliers into hardware (a vehicle) can be challenging. The SDV Accelerator can solve this by providing a preintegrated, open, and cloudbased environment. This can allow automakers and their partners to:

Accelerate development: They can start writing and testing software much earlier, without waiting for physical hardware prototypes;

Reduce cost and time: The virtual environment and streamlined workflows can reduce R&D costs and testing time. For example, a virtual cockpit could be designed and tested entirely in the cloud;

Simplify procurement: The SDV Accelerator offers a curated catalogue of solutions through the AWS Marketplace, making it easier to acquire and deploy the tools needed for SDV development.