HARMAN collaborates with city university on automobile tech

HARMAN, owned by Samsung Electronics, a Stamford-based player in connected automotive technologies, with its Global Capability Center (GCC) in Bengaluru, has tied up with PES University and collaborated with more than 25 students and eight faculty members to develop software that can power the next generation of cars.

HARMAN is also in talks with many other universities and colleges in Bengaluru for similar technology collaborations.

Having powered the world software industry for decades, Bengaluru is now increasingly helping shape the software that powers next-generation automobiles for global markets, said Krishna Kumar, Senior Vice President, Managing Director and Head of Automotive, HARMAN India.

“Bengaluru GCC functions as a core engineering core that combines global R&D with scalable manufacturing and real-world deployments,” said Mr. Kumar.

About 80% of the company’s 4,000 automotive engineers in India live in the city and work on technologies that will eventually be used in vehicles sold in North America, Europe and Asia.

According to Mr. Kumar, the center also promotes research collaborations by co-innovating with leading universities in Bengaluru, helping translate emerging technologies into production-ready automotive solutions.

HARMAN’s engineers here also contribute to global industry and standards organizations such as IEEE (New York-based Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and Munich-based 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), helping shape the future of connected mobility through next-generation technology standards.

Mr. Kumar said a major milestone for Bengaluru GCC is ensuring the adoption of this platform by both Indian and global OEMs.

The company is the sole Tier 1 supplier for Tata Motors’ cockpit and infotainment systems, including its electric vehicles, which are all developed outside the City. Collaborations with Mahindra and Mahindra deliver world-class in-car audio experiences in electric SUVs, while long-standing partnerships with Maruti Suzuki reflect the expansion of connected features across vehicle segments.

Mr. Kumar further said: “As the automotive industry becomes increasingly software-defined, Bengaluru is emerging as a major force behind the connected vehicles of tomorrow. The city also offers production-ready technologies for Indian and global OEMs.”