On a scale of 0 to 100, the companies evaluated were generally more focused on offering standardized (as opposed to bespoke) products than services (at an average of 65 out of 100, with a score of 50 indicating a mix of standard and custom solutions). The average Portfolio score of 57 (also on a scale from 0 to 100) indicates that although companies’ portfolios are broadening to address more software-defined vehicle (SDV) requirements, many typically have targeted solutions for specific use SDV use cases, such as OTA updates, enabling cloud-native automotive software development in advance of access to hardware, and cyber security.

Commenting on the trends the SDV Software Ecosystem Index report highlights, Associate Director Greg Basich said, “Companies providing software solutions for automotive use cases, both in-vehicle and for development, are facing numerous challenges. They must help automakers significantly accelerate software development, must make their solutions easier to integrate with automotive hardware, and must ensure their solutions are cost effective for automotive OEMs.”

Counterpoint Research’s 2026 SDV Software Ecosystem Index report features 30 companies, scoring them across 26 parameters, including their in-vehicle software solutions, software testing and development tools, solutions for in-vehicle virtualization and containerization, support for cloud-native virtual development (enabling software development in advance of access to hardware), cybersecurity solutions, safety solutions, and industry partnerships and activities.

The Index report identified several companies that have positioned their solution portfolios to address a wider range of SDV requirements. Examples include software company QNX (a BlackBerry company), Elektrobit (a subsidiary of Tier-1 supplier Aumovio), and Tier-1 supplier Harman, among others. The key to addressing SDV-related software needs includes support for mixed-criticality systems, with solutions that support virtualization or containerization, enabling cloud-native development and testing using virtual hardware and addressing automotive safety and cybersecurity requirements.

Among specialists in the SDV segment, some have been diversifying their portfolios, such as Qt Group and Sonatus. Several Tier-1 suppliers in the SDV market, such as LG VS, Harman, Valeo, and Aptiv, have created dedicated software suites or solutions designed to address a range of SDV requirements, leveraging their own and partners’ software solutions.

The Index report identified pre-integration, partnerships across multiple layers of the SDV stack and industry collaboration, as key approaches companies are using to address the complexity of automotive software development. The evaluated companies also commonly focused on cloud-based development and testing before hardware access, including software-in-the-loop to hardware-in-the-loop workflows, and support for continuous integration, testing and deployment pipelines.

Across companies profiled, certain aspects of modern software development, such as support for continuous integration, continuous testing, and continuous deployment (CI/CT/CD) are common in the automotive industry, with nearly all companies evaluated in Counterpoint’s report offering solutions that work with CI/CT/CD pipelines.

Although companies in the market are developing solutions to accelerate development, testing, and integration, longstanding challenges in the industry remain. The market for automotive software is fragmented, with many tools and platforms designed to address different aspects of development and deployment. Additionally, companies are beginning to integrate AI tools and offer AI-enabled solutions for automotive software development.

About Counterpoint Research

Counterpoint Research is a global market research firm specializing in products across the technology ecosystem. We advise a diverse range of clients – from smartphone OEMs to chipmakers and channel players to Big Tech – through our offices located in the world's major innovation hubs, manufacturing clusters and commercial centers. Our analyst team, led by seasoned experts, engages with stakeholders across the enterprise – from the C-suite to professionals in strategy, analyst relations (AR), market intelligence (MI), business intelligence (BI), product and marketing – to deliver services spanning market data, industry thought leadership and consulting. Our core areas of coverage include AI, Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Displays, eSIM, IoT, Location Platforms, Macroeconomics, Manufacturing, Networks and Infrastructure, Semiconductors, Smartphones and Wearables. Visit our Insights page to explore our publicly available market data, insights and thought leadership, and to understand our focus, meet our analysts and start a conversation.

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