Are you a developer who is getting bored making stuff for phones and computers? Well, soon it is going to be easier to sell software for cars instead.
What happened: General Motors partnered with parts manufacturer Magna International and IT consulting firm Wipro on SDVerse, a subscription-based platform for buying and selling automotive software that will launch this year.
- Like an app store, users from the entire automotive supply chain can browse software on the platform, where they can also make purchases.
- GM will own 46% of the joint venture, with Magna and Wipro each owning 27%.
Why it matters: As vehicles start to resemble computers on wheels, this platform would make the automotive software market more accessible for developers. Instead of pitching on individual contracts, and then spending a long development cycle custom-building what a client needs, devs can monetize what they’ve already created, and reach more customers.
- For buyers, the plus side is cost savings by eliminating duplication of development efforts and re-using existing products.
What they’re saying: Harmeet Chauhan, global head of Wipro Engineering Edge, said the auto software market is growing faster than developer talent pools. If that gap keeps getting bigger, sticking to how software is currently developed would force the industry to sacrifice profitability and “aspirations for software-defined vehicles.”
Zoom out: McKinsey estimates that the automotive software market will be worth more than US$80 billion by 2030. While driver assistance and autonomous features will make up the bulk of the market, infotainment and other app-based features — like maps, mobile payments, and music streaming — will also grow.
Yes, but: Will it work? Several automakers have grappled with significant software bugs recently, due in part to EVs, which require hundreds of different electronic systems to work in sync. Buying software from multiple sources might not make that compatibility any easier.