What is the real definition of a software-defined vehicle (SDV)? It depends, mostly on who you are asking that question of.

I asked John Heinlein, the Chief Marketing Officer at Sonatus and he had a great response on this week’s Embedded Executives podcast.

We discussed the differences between various tiers of vehicles, how they are upgraded, and what we should be looking out for as we move forward.

Note that John has his podcast and was gracious enough to have me on as a guest recently. Hear that one here.

Many applications today are “software-defined.” Until recently, I would not have used that term to describe an automobile, but I’ve since been set straight.

What will drivers expect from their vehicles in the not too distant future? A better driving experience, naturally. This might mean assistance or automation technology taking over some or most driving tasks. Which might leave room for a richer infotainment experience. For many, efficiency and sustainability will become increasingly important. This will all have to be underpinned by unimpeachable safety and security.