SODA.Auto launches SODA V, empowering automotive OEMs to compete with Asia

UK-based automotive tech company, SODA.Auto today launched its flagship product – SODA V, the world's first tool that covers all needs of automotive engineers from idea to certification to create software-defined vehicles (SDVs). 

Serving as a unified platform for Software, Electronics, and Electrical Architecture, SODA V harnesses the capabilities of digital twin technologies and AI, significantly reducing time spent on each routine task. For instance, test coding that previously took 3 days can now be reviewed in just 10 minutes.

With SODA V, automakers can build new SDVs in just 200 days, a fraction of the traditional 5-year timeline, with a $600,000 budget compared to the industry standard of $40 million. This will lead to more units on the market, lower prices for end users, and cars becoming more technologically advanced with better user experiences.

A solution to industry pain points

The European automotive industry is experiencing a notable stagnation, characterised by reduced earnings, market contraction, and significant challenges posed by competition with the Asian market. Sales declined by nearly 19 percent in 2023. 

This challenge is particularly acute for OEMs seeing a decrease in sales and startups shutting down as early-stage funding for automotive startups has significantly decreased, from $12.2 billion in 2021 to $3.7 billion in 2023.

According to  Glenn Saint, The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) UK, Commercial Director at Equipmake:

 "The previous status quo of creating vehicles no longer works. Cars are not only mechanical products anymore, customers expect software-driven, feature-rich mobility experiences. 

We need innovative tools to help automakers (and suppliers) quickly overcome the challenge of creating a product comparable to high-end technology products and at the cost of Chinese cars." 

SODA V, unlike all other industry players' solutions, exclusively covers the entire vehicle development cycle, from idea and requirements to validation and certification, replacing at least 15 commonly used tools, such as Siemens Polarion, IBM Doors, Confluence, and Vector, streamlining the entire process in a single interface.

Founded in 2023, the company raised $6 million in its first year, and is staffed by a team of 60 experienced developers and managers, many from Arrival.

In just one year, SODA.Auto aims to double its client base of automotive companies in Western markets, expecting them to develop over 150,000 software-defined vehicles. The company is also undergoing a new investment round and planning an IPO.