Counterpoint Conversations: Discussing Automotive Cybersecurity, Edge AI and ADAS Radar Innovations With Aptiv

At IAA Mobility 2025, Counterpoint Research’s Senior Analyst Murtuza Ali and Associate Director Greg Basich met with Brian Witten, Chief Product Security Office at Aptiv, to discuss how the automotive industry is advancing toward safer, more intelligent vehicles. From radar evolution and Level 2++ autonomy to edge AI and cybersecurity, Witten described how Aptiv is helping OEMs accelerate the transition to the next generation of connected, automated driving systems.

The Interview

Key Takeaways from the Discussion:

L2+ Autonomy: Making Advanced Driving Assistance Mainstream

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Level 2++ autonomy, is a critical bridge between current driver-assist technologies and full autonomy. Tremendous progress is expected on this front over the next year.
Affordable price points for Level 2+ systems can help OEMs bring next-level driving experiences to customers.
While cost and safety validation has slowed some western OEMs, the industry is rapidly overcoming the challenges through sensor fusion and radar advancement.
Radar is a key enabler of safety and reliability. Aptiv pioneered radar technology for cars. The first vehicle-mounted radar for the automotive industry was deployed in 1999, which was installed on a Jaguar XKR to support an adaptive cruise control system. The company continues to lead in sensor innovation and were first to market with 4D imaging radar.
Aptiv views 4D imaging radar as a complement to vision systems, particularly in addressing the safety and redundancy challenges that have plagued some L2+ systems relying solely on cameras. As 4D imaging radar technology matures, OEMs will embrace it more widely toward 2030, unlocking greater reliability in poor visibility and complex driving environments.

Edge AI: Bridging Automotive and Aerospace Innovation

There is a significant parallel between the automotive and aerospace sectors. For example, how edge AI is transforming both industries. AI in edge devices is in fact revolutionizing many industries from autonomy in cars to autonomous drones and robotics.
Edge AI requires advanced algorithms on hardware, supported by a robust software stack, which are areas that Wind River focuses on. Wind River’s software stack, including VXWorks and its Helix Hypervisor, enables safety-critical and high-performance applications to coexist securely.
Over-the-air (OTA) containerized updates are now possible even within real-time operating systems, signifying a convergence of cloud-driven innovation and automotive-grade reliability.
Algorithms and compute power have improved significantly on edge devices. Autonomy for drones and robotics, in addition to autonomous vehicles, has seen a staggering rate of progress.
Aptiv utilizes processors that drive on-device AI accelerators and are deployed in millions of vehicles globally. Aptiv’s open-server platform, showcased at a recent CES, has already secured its first customer, signaling industry readiness for scalable AI-driven ADAS architectures.

Cybersecurity, a Regulatory Imperative

Regulations like UN R155 have standardized automotive cybersecurity requirements, with such technical requirements as secure boot, secure load and secure updates. This is forcing OEMs and suppliers to integrate security ‘by design’ rather than as an afterthought.
In the past, OEMs struggled with putting forward a business case for cybersecurity, but due to regulatory requirements they now have to invest. This is the big change in approach to security in vehicles which has been driving change in the industry.
Aptiv has worked for decades on software engineering with a strong emphasis on a ‘shift left’ approach, embedding security early in the design process.
Witten highlighted his role on the Automotive ISAC board, which fosters cross-industry threat intelligence sharing to strengthen collective resilience. “If one car becomes less trusted, the entire industry loses trust,” Witten said.

Analyst Takeaways:

OEMs are accelerating investments in L2++ as a practical, near-term autonomy level that delivers tangible safety and comfort benefits. Cost-effective sensor solutions like 4D imaging radar are expected to be key enablers for autonomy in the future, with Aptiv being well positioned to benefit from its early and first-mover advantage.
The integration of processors with AI accelerators in edge devices in cars will redefine vehicle intelligence, enabling real-time decision-making without relying solely on cloud connectivity. Aptiv, with its Wind River hardware-software solution convergence, is helping automakers scale more rapidly.
With the enforcement of the UN R155 regulation, cybersecurity is no longer optional, and OEMs are seeking trusted partners with proven processes and scale. Aptiv’s approach of ‘secure by design’ methodology aligns well with the industry’s long-term shift toward proactive defense to cybersecurity.

저자

Murtuza Ali

Murtuza is a Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research based out of the UK. In Counterpoint, he closely tracks the Automotive Industry and Markets with a focus on pivotal technologies such as Electric Vehicles, Autonomous Vehicles, Software Defined Vehicle, Infotainment & Digital Cockpit, Mobility and Connectivity. He started his career at Tata Motors developing Electric Vehicles graduating into Strategy roles. His most recent experience prior to joining Counterpoint Research has been as a Consulting Manager at the Transport & Mobility consultants Ricardo UK. He holds an Executive MBA from Warwick University, MSc in Automotive Systems Engineering from Loughborough University and a BEng. in Automobile Engineering from Mumbai University.

Greg Basich

As Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, Greg Basich focuses on the automotive industry. Prior to joining Counterpoint Research, Greg worked at TechInsights and Strategy Analytics for a combined 11 years, providing market intelligence and advisory services to companies in the automotive electronics market and related verticals. Prior to his career as an analyst, Greg was a business-to-business journalist at Bobit Business Media for 13 years, focused on automotive interiors, aftermarket electronics, and the fleet market. Greg holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, San Diego.

The Interview

Key Takeaways from the Discussion:

L2+ Autonomy: Making Advanced Driving Assistance Mainstream

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Level 2++ autonomy, is a critical bridge between current driver-assist technologies and full autonomy. Tremendous progress is expected on this front over the next year.
Affordable price points for Level 2+ systems can help OEMs bring next-level driving experiences to customers.
While cost and safety validation has slowed some western OEMs, the industry is rapidly overcoming the challenges through sensor fusion and radar advancement.
Radar is a key enabler of safety and reliability. Aptiv pioneered radar technology for cars. The first vehicle-mounted radar for the automotive industry was deployed in 1999, which was installed on a Jaguar XKR to support an adaptive cruise control system. The company continues to lead in sensor innovation and were first to market with 4D imaging radar.
Aptiv views 4D imaging radar as a complement to vision systems, particularly in addressing the safety and redundancy challenges that have plagued some L2+ systems relying solely on cameras. As 4D imaging radar technology matures, OEMs will embrace it more widely toward 2030, unlocking greater reliability in poor visibility and complex driving environments.

Edge AI: Bridging Automotive and Aerospace Innovation

There is a significant parallel between the automotive and aerospace sectors. For example, how edge AI is transforming both industries. AI in edge devices is in fact revolutionizing many industries from autonomy in cars to autonomous drones and robotics.
Edge AI requires advanced algorithms on hardware, supported by a robust software stack, which are areas that Wind River focuses on. Wind River’s software stack, including VXWorks and its Helix Hypervisor, enables safety-critical and high-performance applications to coexist securely.
Over-the-air (OTA) containerized updates are now possible even within real-time operating systems, signifying a convergence of cloud-driven innovation and automotive-grade reliability.
Algorithms and compute power have improved significantly on edge devices. Autonomy for drones and robotics, in addition to autonomous vehicles, has seen a staggering rate of progress.
Aptiv utilizes processors that drive on-device AI accelerators and are deployed in millions of vehicles globally. Aptiv’s open-server platform, showcased at a recent CES, has already secured its first customer, signaling industry readiness for scalable AI-driven ADAS architectures.

Cybersecurity, a Regulatory Imperative

Regulations like UN R155 have standardized automotive cybersecurity requirements, with such technical requirements as secure boot, secure load and secure updates. This is forcing OEMs and suppliers to integrate security ‘by design’ rather than as an afterthought.
In the past, OEMs struggled with putting forward a business case for cybersecurity, but due to regulatory requirements they now have to invest. This is the big change in approach to security in vehicles which has been driving change in the industry.
Aptiv has worked for decades on software engineering with a strong emphasis on a ‘shift left’ approach, embedding security early in the design process.
Witten highlighted his role on the Automotive ISAC board, which fosters cross-industry threat intelligence sharing to strengthen collective resilience. “If one car becomes less trusted, the entire industry loses trust,” Witten said.

Analyst Takeaways:

OEMs are accelerating investments in L2++ as a practical, near-term autonomy level that delivers tangible safety and comfort benefits. Cost-effective sensor solutions like 4D imaging radar are expected to be key enablers for autonomy in the future, with Aptiv being well positioned to benefit from its early and first-mover advantage.
The integration of processors with AI accelerators in edge devices in cars will redefine vehicle intelligence, enabling real-time decision-making without relying solely on cloud connectivity. Aptiv, with its Wind River hardware-software solution convergence, is helping automakers scale more rapidly.
With the enforcement of the UN R155 regulation, cybersecurity is no longer optional, and OEMs are seeking trusted partners with proven processes and scale. Aptiv’s approach of ‘secure by design’ methodology aligns well with the industry’s long-term shift toward proactive defense to cybersecurity.