Backyard mechanics who enjoy tinkering around under the hood may remember a time when a wrench and a little elbow grease were all that was needed for simple vehicle repairs. However, over time, that tinkering has been replaced by the need for more sophisticated vehicle diagnostics. This is because, as new safety and emissions standards emerged in the 1970s, so did the microprocessor technology needed to support them.

This shift resulted in the software-defined vehicle (SDV), whose core features and functions are primarily enabled by software rather than hardware. SDVs represent a transformative evolution in the automotive industry, from traditional hardware-centric designs to software-driven systems that can deliver more dynamic, connected, upgradable experiences.