SDV Reflections: Understanding the Human in the Software-Defined Vehicle

Software Defined Vehicles have evolved far beyond a technical buzzword, they represent a cultural transformation reshaping the automotive industry at its core. Today’s vehicles are no longer static machines but dynamic digital ecosystems: always connected, always updateable, and always in flux. But amid the promise of centralized architectures, OTA updates, AI-driven functions, and new business models, one insight becomes clearer than ever: none of this works without understanding the human behind the wheel. In this episode, I share my reflections from recent SDV conferences, not a classic recap, but a deeper exploration of the tensions, ambitions, and unanswered questions currently defining the field. Together we unpack three dimensions: - General Reflections: How technology, business models, and HMI/UX thinking must evolve to support software-defined mobility - SDV Strategies: Why SDVs are the umbrella concept for the automotive industry’s shift from mechanical artifact to digital mobility platform - Use Cases & UX: How personalization, AI-based assistance, OTA-driven evolution, and ecosystem integration redefine what a vehicle is and why the UX complexity is still far from understood. From centralized computing to predictive interaction design, from subscription-driven business models to the cultural challenge of merging mechanical and software mindsets, this episode dives into what is truly at stake. Because in the end, the SDV is not just a new kind of car. It’s a new kind of relationship between humans and technology.