BlackBerry QNX has released findings from a global study that highlight India’s growing role in shaping the software-defined vehicle (SDV) landscape. The report underscores both the challenges and opportunities facing Indian automotive software developers as automakers worldwide accelerate the shift toward software-driven architectures.
The research, conducted across 1,100 automotive software developers in North America, Europe, and Asia—including 100 participants in India—points to regulatory pressures, lengthy development cycles, and increasing software recalls as key hurdles for the industry.
Regulatory Pressures and Recalls Drive Change
Indian developers face some of the toughest challenges globally. More than one-quarter (26%) reported delayed project timelines due to evolving compliance demands, as over 500 new regulations affecting in-car technology were introduced worldwide in 2024. Top concerns included over-the-air update mandates (54%), cybersecurity requirements (52%), data privacy laws (44%), and functional safety standards such as ISO 26262 (38%).
These dynamics are reshaping priorities. According to the study, 72% of Indian developers—the highest proportion globally—say recent software recalls have significantly changed their approach to development. Nearly 40% described the impact as “major.” Despite this, 99% of Indian developers expressed confidence in their ability to remain compliant, also the highest globally.
Development Bottlenecks Persist
Beyond regulation, Indian teams reported the longest development cycles, with 49% citing this as their biggest challenge. Integration complexity (47%) and compliance (45%) also ranked high on the list of obstacles. Only 31% of Indian respondents rated their current development environment as “excellent” for productivity.
These delays often clash with consumer expectations for faster feature rollouts, with developers pointing to regulatory hurdles (60%), hardware limitations (55%), and skills shortages (51%) as primary causes of misalignment.
Calls for OEMs to Refocus
The survey also reflects a shift in sentiment regarding automakers’ role in the software stack. A large majority of Indian developers (85%) believe OEMs should focus less on foundational software infrastructure and more on application-layer innovation, which could speed up time-to-market and enhance consumer experiences. Additionally, 98% of Indian respondents highlighted cross-industry partnerships as critical to their projects, with 72% expressing strong support for collaborative development.
Artificial intelligence is seen as a major disruptor for SDV development. About 93% of Indian developers expect AI to play a transformational or significant role within the next three to five years. They estimate that 43% of current roles could be replaced by AI by 2035. Furthermore, 59% believe AI-driven personalization will be the defining SDV feature by 2030.
“Software is the cornerstone of the entire SDV stack, from chip to cloud,” said Neil Shah, Vice President, Research & Co-Founder, Counterpoint Research. “OEMs that attempt to go fully vertical on foundational software risk slowing their transformation. Partnerships and co-innovation are essential to balance speed, compliance, and scale.”
Raj Jain, Vice President Engineering and Head of QNX India, added: “While AI offers enormous promise, the OEMs making the most progress are those realigning engineering resources toward innovation that directly impacts the driver and passenger experience, while relying on trusted partners for the foundational layers.”
Global Context
QNX, a division of BlackBerry Limited, provides operating systems, middleware, and safety-certified software that underpin more than 255 million vehicles worldwide. The company is a longstanding partner for leading automakers and Tier 1 suppliers including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Volkswagen, Bosch, and Continental.
The study, commissioned by QNX and conducted by OnePoll between July 25 and August 5, 2025, reflects growing recognition that India is not just a cost center but a critical hub for SDV innovation, resilience, and collaboration.