In an interview with Digital Engineering, Julia Garcia-Trombley of FEV.io and Wensi Jin of MathWorks discuss how software-defined vehicles (SDVs) are shifting the center of gravity in automotive engineering. Once known for engines and mechanical systems, FEV has expanded into intelligent mobility and software development, handling everything from safety and cybersecurity to full-vehicle systems integration.
Garcia-Trombley defines an SDV as more than a car with software features; it’s a vehicle whose architecture itself is defined by software. Instead of designing hardware and then adding code, automakers now build vehicles around software platforms that determine how every subsystem communicates, behaves, and evolves.
MathWorks plays a critical role by providing simulation and code-generation tools that let engineers design, test, and validate software independent of hardware. Jin explains that in SDVs, software must be developed and tested virtually before ever reaching the road, since physical testing for each configuration would be impossible. Simulation, therefore, must integrate mechanical, electrical, and environmental conditions to mirror how code interacts with the real world.
The collaboration between FEV.io and MathWorks demonstrates how toolchains are becoming the new backbone of automotive R&D. Engineers now treat software like a mechanical component, modeled, tested, and iterated with the same rigor. Automatic code generation and model-based design make it easier to adapt to future changes in processors, operating systems, or communication standards.
Both experts foresee challenges in cybersecurity, data management, and maintaining legacy code as OEMs transition toward cloud-connected systems. They emphasize that vehicle production no longer ends at delivery; continuous updates and live threat monitoring define a new post-production lifecycle.
Ultimately, the SDV revolution isn’t just about technology; it’s about redefining how the entire automotive industry collaborates, from development to deployment.