SODA.Auto, a UK-based automotive technology company, today announced its flagship product, SODA V, the world's first tool covering all the needs of automotive engineers, from ideation to certification, for creating Software Defined Vehicles (SDV).
As an integrated platform for software, electronics, and electrical architecture, SODA V leverages the power of digital twin technology and AI to significantly reduce the time spent on routine tasks, for example, reviewing test coding that previously took three days can now be completed in just 10 minutes.
SODA V allows automakers to build new SDVs in just 200 days, a fraction of the traditional five-year time frame, and for a budget of $600,000 versus the industry standard of $40 million. This translates into more units on the market, lower prices for end users, and leads to technological advances in vehicles and improved user experiences.
Solutions to industry problems
The European automotive industry is experiencing a significant downturn, characterized by falling revenues, a shrinking market and major challenges from competition from Asian markets. Sales for 2023 are expected to fall by almost 19%.
The challenge is particularly acute for OEMs, who are facing declining sales and startup closures as early-stage funding for automotive startups has fallen sharply from $12.2 billion in 2021 to $3.7 billion in 2023.
Glenn Saint, Equipmake commercial director at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said:
“The traditional status quo of manufacturing cars no longer works. Cars are no longer just mechanical products, and customers expect software-driven, feature-rich mobility experiences.
“We need innovative tools to help automakers (and suppliers) quickly overcome the challenge of making products that can compete with high-end technology products at prices comparable to Chinese cars.”
Unlike all other industry player solutions, SODA V exclusively covers the entire vehicle development cycle, from idea and requirements to validation and certification, replacing at least 15 commonly used tools such as Siemens Polarion, IBM Doors, Confluence and Vector, streamlining the entire process in a single interface.
Founded in 2023, the company raised $6 million in its first year and has a team of 60 experienced developers and managers, many of whom came from Arrival.
SODA.Auto aims to double its customer base of automotive companies in Western markets in just one year, and aims to develop more than 150,000 software-defined vehicles. The company is also raising a new investment round and planning an IPO.
