The convergence of conventional automotive and digital technologies is opening vast opportunities for companies like Spark Minda. Already operating across more than eight automotive domains, the company is sharpening its focus on high-growth areas by leveraging its deep mechatronics, electronics, and integration capabilities.
Speaking to Mobility Outlook, Suresh D, Group CTO, Spark Minda Technical Centre of Minda Corporation Ltd, said, vehicle access remains a cornerstone of the company’s growth strategy. Evolving from a traditional locking company, it now offers complete access systems—integrating plastics, die-casting, electronics, software, and control units—to OEMs as a full-system solution provider. This backward integration not only strengthens customer value but also significantly lifts kit value per vehicle.
Another major frontier is the transformation from wiring harnesses to Electrical Distribution Systems (EDS). As vehicles move towards Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and wireless communications, the company is transitioning to offer high-data-capacity EDS solutions, tapping into rising demand driven by ADAS and connected vehicle technologies. This shift promises a significant kit value jump, with partnerships already secured with leading OEMs.
The company is also scaling its capabilities in display technology. From producing mechanical speedometers, Spark Minda has advanced into digital instrument clusters and now aims to pioneer pillar-to-pillar displays—a space still underserved by multinational suppliers. Plans are underway to set up a local TFT manufacturing plant in Pune in collaboration with a global partner, reinforcing the Make in India vision and reducing dependence on imports from China, he said.
Finally, the company is aggressively expanding in the electric vehicle (EV) domain. With offerings across power electronics such as DC-DC converters, chargers, high-voltage connectors, and now motor and motor controller solutions—through a strategic partnership with Flash Electronics—the company has built a nearly complete EV component portfolio, strategically choosing to stay out of battery manufacturing due to heavy dependence on imported cell technologies.
Mastering Complexity In The Age Of Zonal Computing
As vehicles evolve towards zonal architectures where high-performance computers (HPCs) replace multiple ECUs, the complexity of the ecosystem has grown exponentially. Spark Minda’s journey from mechanical locks to sophisticated keyless systems illustrates this shift vividly. “Earlier, only the company and the OEM shared the business landscape. Today, with innovations like Phone-as-a-Key, new players—mobile device manufacturers, app developers, cloud providers, semiconductor firms, and cybersecurity specialists—are all staking claims,” explained Suresh.
Managing this expanding web of stakeholders has become critical, he said, adding that the transitioning from mechanical systems to electronics demands not only advanced technical capabilities but also continuous engagement with major global semiconductor players like Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, and Renesas. Though these companies are much larger, Spark Minda's strategy involves securing access to their SoC (System on Chip) platforms and customising global base technologies for the Indian market to offer affordable solutions, he explained.
Building on these platforms requires significant investments in software engineering, cybersecurity, functional safety, and application development. The collaboration model has also changed fundamentally—no longer limited to direct OEM engagement, it now involves co-developing solutions with multiple technology partners, ensuring seamless integration across connected networks. In this intricate landscape, the company’s strength lies in its ability to manage complexity while delivering value-driven, scalable solutions for tomorrow’s vehicles, he pointed out.
Managing Risks In Layered Ecosystem
As automotive systems become increasingly layered—with OEM platforms, component systems, middleware, and external integrations—the complexity not only creates opportunities but also introduces new cybersecurity risks. In the mechanical era, threats were limited to physical attacks, such as stealing a key. However, with electronic access systems like Phone-as-a-Key, the attack surface has expanded dramatically, highlighted Suresh.
Today, a hacker could intercept signals between a user’s device and the vehicle remotely, without ever touching the car. Beyond vehicle access, modern vehicles host vast communication networks—CAN, USB, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet—each opening potential vulnerabilities. As attack vectors multiply, cybersecurity becomes as critical as mechanical reliability, he cautioned.
Spark Minda addresses these risks by embedding security across multiple layers: at the vehicle, system, and component levels. OEMs now demand that suppliers not only meet their functional performance needs but also comply with stringent cybersecurity and functional safety standards, he noted.
In designing critical components, Spark Minda ensures that failure at one level triggers a secondary fail-safe—mirroring practices from the aerospace industry where redundancy is vital for safety. Whether it’s hardware or software, backup mechanisms are built into the system architecture. Co-development and close collaboration with OEMs are crucial, ensuring that each component integrates seamlessly into the vehicle’s overall security framework. In today’s automotive landscape, building trusted systems is not optional—it’s foundational, Suresh signed off.
Also Read:
How Spark Minda Rewired Its Future From Locks To Smart Access