HARMAN collaborates with city university on automobile tech

Samsung Electronics-owned HARMAN, a Stamford-based player in connected automotive technologies whose Global Capability Centre (GCC) is in Bengaluru, has roped in PES University and collaborated with over 25 students and eight faculty members on development of software that can power the next generation of automobiles.

HARMAN is also in talks with many other universities and colleges in Bengaluru for similar technology collaborations.

Krishna Kumar, Senior Vice President, Managing Director and Automotive Head, HARMAN India, said, Bengaluru that powered the world’s software industry for several decades, was now increasingly helping shape software that powers the next generation of automobiles for global markets.

“The Bengaluru GCC functions as a core engineering nucleus connecting global R&D with scalable manufacturing and real-world deployments,” said Mr. Kumar.

Nearly 80% of the company’s 4,000 automotive engineers in India are based in the City, and work on technologies that eventually find their way into vehicles sold across North America, Europe and Asia.

According to Mr. Kumar, the centre also co-innovates with leading universities in Bengaluru, fostering research collaborations that help translate emerging technologies into production-ready automotive solutions.

HARMAN’s engineers here also contribute to global industry and standards bodies such as the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, based in New York) and Munich-based 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), helping shape the future of connected mobility through next-generation technology standards.

A significant milestone for the Bengaluru GCC was that this platform has secured adoption from both Indian and global OEMs, Mr. Kumar said.

The company is the sole Tier 1 supplier for cockpit and infotainment systems for Tata Motors, including its electric vehicles, all developed out of the City. Collaborations with Mahindra & Mahindra have introduced premium in-car audio experiences in electric SUVs, while long-standing partnerships with Maruti Suzuki reflect the mainstreaming of connected features across vehicle segments.

“As the automotive industry becomes increasingly software-defined, Bengaluru is emerging as a pivotal force behind the connected vehicles of tomorrow. The City is also offering production-ready technologies for Indian and global OEMs,’’ Mr. Kumar further said.