Delphi Expands Software Capabilities
16 May 2000
Delphi Automotive Systems Expands Software Capabilities With Opening of India Technical Center
BANGALORE, India, May 16 To meet the increasing demand for
vehicle software, Delphi Automotive Systems has announced the
establishment of a software technical center in Bangalore, India. The new
Delphi Technical Center India will open in 2000 to develop software for
Delphi's worldwide vehicle applications.
The center will eventually employ about 250 people and is located at the
International Technology Park in Bangalore.
The majority of the employees will develop microprocessor software used in
embedded controls for electronic systems such as engine and powertrain
controllers, antilock brakes, radios, instrument clusters and air control
systems.
"As computing platforms in the vehicle continue to expand in size and
number, the need for software to support these platforms is increasing
dramatically," said Dave Wohleen, Delphi Automotive Systems executive vice
president and president of the Electronics & Mobile Communications Sector.
"The establishment of our new tech center will help Delphi keep pace with this
rapidly increasing demand."
Delphi's Technical Center India is part of a concerted effort at Delphi to
meet the increasing demand for and growth of software in the automotive
environment. The recent rapid increase in demand for mobile multimedia
products in vehicles has dramatically increased Delphi's need for vehicle
software engineering and development. In addition to the new tech center,
Delphi Delco Electronics Systems is currently recruiting software, design and
test engineers for this growing segment in the U.S.
Delphi, the leader in mobile multimedia products, has booked $2.9 billion
dollars in mobile multimedia business for its telematics, smart radios and
rear seat entertainment systems. The business was recently placed in a new
aggressive growth product line category and structure to intensify the
company's focus on mobile communication and the mobile multimedia market.
"This initiative is necessary to meet ever-increasing customer
requirements for our growth product lines around the world," said Jeff Owens,
general director of engineering for Delphi Delco Electronics Systems. "Tech
Center India will offer Delphi access to the intellectual resources found in
Bangalore, a city known as the electronics software capital of Asia. Also, we
know that engineering is a 24-hour-a-day activity in today's global business
environment."
Delphi's U.S. and Indian sites are linked in a global Delphi engineering
network. Through web-enabled design and development tools, the company can
keep projects moving forward around the clock. This capability is especially
important since mobile electronics product development lead times track the
computer industry which has cycle times that are a lot more rapid than the
current automobile development cycles.
"We have had a presence in Bangalore for more than four years and are very
confident that the expertise and experience available here supports our
objectives," said Ashok B. Ramaswamy, director of Technical Center India.
The initial focus of the new technical center will be on automotive embedded
systems that depend on software as the medium for providing product features,
differentiation and adaptability to different vehicle customers, according to
Ramaswamy.
"Delphi's competitive strength depends on our ability to continually
develop new products and technologies for our global markets," said James A.
Spencer, Delphi vice president and president of Delphi Asia Pacific.
"Technical Center India will enhance our global engineering capability by
tapping the abundant technical talent available in this region."
The center will become a part of Delphi's global competency that links its
engineering structure and resources around the globe. Delphi also has
software capabilities in North America and Europe.
Technical Center India is expected to expand to offer additional expertise
in Computer Aided Engineering, Electrical Computer Aided Design, Mechanical
Computed Aided Design and more Research & Development. Initially, in addition
to software engineers from Delphi Delco Electronics Systems, the center will
house approximately 15 systems, mechanical, electrical and manufacturing
engineers from other Delphi divisions. Other divisions represented at the
center will include Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems, Delphi Thermal Systems,
Delphi Steering Systems and Delphi Research and Development.