Raghavendra Vaidya
As the commercial vehicle industry shifts toward connected, efficient, and autonomous solutions, Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) are gaining buzz. But for Daimler Trucks, SDVs aren’t a silver bullet—they're a capability, not a solution. “The real value lies not in the architecture, but in how we actualise it,” said Raghavendra Vaidya, Chief Information Officer, Daimler Trucks.
Speaking to Mobility Outlook, Vaidya said, at its core, SDV decouples software from hardware, enabling faster feature deployment and simplified vehicle architecture through zonal computing and truck APIs (application programming interface). “It’s the foundation, not the finish line. Daimler has signed a partnership deal with Volvo for a new SDV joint venture to build next-gen platforms, with development anchored in Sweden and potentially India. But while SDVs will soon be industry standard, true differentiation will come from how OEMs leverage them to create real business value,” he opined.
The challenge isn’t just designing the platform—it’s identifying and delivering features that improve uptime, enhance safety, personalise driver comfort, and elevate fleet efficiency. “Everyone talks about SDVs, but few discuss how to monetise the capability,” he said. Like generative AI, the model means little without a clear application layer that solves problems and creates customer value.
Looking ahead, most global OEMs will adopt SDV architecture by the decade’s end. But the winners will be those who turn capability into competitive edge—using cloud as the fifth ECU, shifting workloads between edge and cloud, and creating software-defined benefits that operators are willing to pay for. In this race, strategy and vision—not hardware—will define leadership, he pointed out.
Innovative Technologies
In the evolving software-defined architecture, Daimler is taking a path distinct from the popular zonal computing approach seen in passenger cars. Instead of splitting a truck into physical zones—like front, mid, or trailer—they’re adopting a domain-based high-performance computing (HPC) model tailored to the unique structure of commercial vehicles, he explained.
“Zonal computing works for cars, but trucks are different. We focus on domains—Active Safety, HMI, Connectivity, Powertrain, and Body Control—and run them on three powerful computers, replacing over 80 ECUs used today,” Vaidya said.
This shift is transformative. New features no longer require hardware replacements, which typically stretch into three-year cycles. Instead, Daimler’s model ensures ample computing headroom for future updates, allowing continuous feature deployment via over-the-air (OTA) updates. The goal is clear - minimise hardware changes, accelerate innovation, and future-proof the vehicle.
Real-Time Responses Demand On-Board Intelligence
While cloud connectivity enables smarter vehicles, real-time decisions—especially safety-critical ones like emergency braking—always stay on the truck. Latency-sensitive functions are handled entirely on-board, ensuring instant response. What the cloud offers is computational scale for non-critical tasks, like range prediction, which can leverage data from multiple trucks to enhance accuracy.
As 5G networks evolve, dynamic workload sharing between truck and cloud becomes more feasible. The key is prioritisation: what runs where depends on how immediate the decision needs to be. Predictive analytics, fleet-wide optimisation, and AI-driven efficiency models can reside in the cloud; time-critical control systems must remain local.
This balance becomes even more complex when factoring in regulatory fragmentation across global markets. While Daimler aims to maintain a common E/E architecture across regions, local adaptations are unavoidable. “We keep the architecture, ECUs, and protocols global, but tailor features and peripherals to comply with local laws and market expectations,” he explained.
The strategy is to enable mass customisation without cost blowouts—develop once, deploy many times. It’s a delicate dance between standardisation and localisation, ensuring global efficiency without sacrificing regional relevance. For Daimler, that’s the blueprint for scalable, intelligent trucking in a fragmented world.
Sheet Metal To Software
At Daimler Truck’s DTICI, innovation spans from sheet metal to software, with an emphasis on convergence. From crash simulations using advanced CAE tools to core mechanical work on chassis, cabin, suspensions, and braking systems, the centre integrates fundamental engineering with cutting-edge digital development. It also drives key advancements in fuel economy, balancing engine performance, aggregates, and aerodynamics, Vaidya mentioned.
What sets DTICI apart is its co-location of diverse competencies—mechanical, software, and electronics—under one roof. This proximity allows for rapid problem-solving that no other Daimler facility can replicate, making it a hub for cross-functional collaboration and system-level innovation.
The centre is also embracing low-code, no-code tools and GenAI to accelerate development. Using platforms like Microsoft Copilot and GitHub, developers now generate code and test cases more efficiently, reducing non-functional bugs and speeding up deployment. 'As these technologies mature, we expect higher quality and faster output—transforming how quickly features reach the truck,' he noted.
Cybersecurity: The Silent Battle Behind Connected Mobility
With more than a million connected trucks globally, cybersecurity is a top priority. DTICI approaches this on two fronts: enterprise security and product-level security. Trucks today act like data centres on wheels, making them both valuable and vulnerable. The centre uses state-of-the-art encryption, enforces a single secure entry point via a unified telematics platform, and integrates cybersecurity from the earliest design stages—a shift from the past where it was often an afterthought.
But the fight is ongoing. “Cybersecurity is a journey, not a destination,” he emphasised. As threats evolve, so must defences, especially for safety-critical systems. With this layered, proactive approach, DTICI continues to balance technological ambition with robust digital safeguards, laying the foundation for the future of intelligent, secure commercial mobility, Vaidya summed up.
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DTICI Augments Daimler Trucks’ Autonomous Push With Real-World Simulation Tech