How KPIT Aims to Become Your Car’s Must-Have Software

Indian companies are making significant strides in automotive software, and KPIT is at the forefront of this movement. Gabriel Seiberth, Head of Europe at KPIT, discusses their ambitious plans and collaboration with ZF.

Eight months have passed since Gabriel Seiberth switched sides: After nine years at Accenture, he moved to the Indian software company KPIT as Head of Europe in November 2023.

He took on this job with a big mission: “We want to become the leading partner for software integration in the mobility sector – because we know more about vehicle architectures than any other technology company,” says Seiberth.

Founded in 1993 in Pune, India, KPIT began as an IT service provider. However, in 2019, the company shifted its focus entirely to automotive software under the leadership of founder and CEO Kishor Patil. This strategic pivot involved selling more than half of its business to concentrate on this new direction.

“Not just an extended workbench, but working side by side with leading automotive companies.”

Recognizing early on that software would be crucial in transforming the automotive industry, KPIT’s realignment has been highly successful.

Since 2019, the company’s share price has surged by 1300%, positioning KPIT as a global player with development centers in key markets.

The Munich site, established in 2020, now employs over 1,000 software specialists, contributing to a total of over 13,000 employees worldwide.

“We are the world’s largest independent integration partner for automotive software – from autonomous driving systems to middleware in cars,” says Seiberth. “We are not an extended workbench, but work side by side with automotive companies on the vehicle functions of tomorrow.”

Aiming for one billion dollars in sales

The focus on software in vehicles is appreciated by the market: KPIT has been growing continuously since 2019. “In three years, we want to double our global turnover to one billion US dollars – and Europe plays a central role in our growth plans,” says Seiberth.

The company expects strong growth in Europe and Asia in particular. “We see enormous opportunities, especially in China, even if geopolitical tensions and punitive tariffs are challenging,” says the manager.

To date, over 25 car manufacturers and suppliers worldwide rely on solutions from KPIT. These include BMW and Renault in Europe, Honda in Japan and the supplier ZF. However, if Seiberth has his way, there could be even more. “We want to build more strategic partnerships in order to implement programs quickly and efficiently, as we have already done with Renault and BMW,” says the European head.

Strengthening European Presence

Seiberth is sharpening KPIT’s focus on Europe, emphasizing the importance of being close to local markets and customers, especially in Germany. “We want to be more than just an Indian software company, we want to be a multinational technology company,” says Seiberth.

KPIT’s approach is not to provide IT specialists in order to fill capacity gaps at the customer side – as many other software service providers do. The aim is to work together as equals, according to the European head of the technology company: “We support manufacturers on their way to the software-defined vehicle (SDV) across all steps – from architecture and development to integration and validation.

Focus on Middleware

KPIT places a strong emphasis on middleware, which connects different system levels in modern vehicle architectures, enabling SDVs.

“In the past, many manufacturers relied on in-house developments – the operating system for the vehicle as an important differentiator – but they quickly realized that this approach has a few catches,” says Seiberth.

In particular, the high costs of development, the time to market launch and the shortage of in-house software experts have prompted many manufacturers to rethink their approach.

Joint Venture with ZF

This led to the creation of Qorix, a joint venture between ZF and KPIT. “Together, we are developing the independent middleware stack of the future,” says Seiberth. He believes that middleware will primarily be based on open-source standards in the future, with manufacturers focusing on differentiating functions.

“You don’t have to program an automated parking function yourself, but you have to be able to integrate it into the vehicle architecture without errors,” says Seiberth.

Future Pillars: Autonomous Driving and Electromobility

Autonomous driving and electromobility are also central to KPIT’s strategy. Seiberth sees realistic and profitable applications here: “Level two ‘hands-free’ systems offer convenience and are increasingly being implemented. Level three, while a smaller market due to high sensor costs, offers interesting future prospects.”

With a clear vision and robust strategy, KPIT is well-positioned to become a leading player in automotive software, driving the future of mobility.