Summary and Outlook

Let’s look at the strategic benefits before finishing the discussion with an outlook for a long-term, #digitalfirst Vehicle Development approach.

Strategic Benefits

Along the V-Model, several key benefits emerge when applying shift-left strategies:

By shifting towards virtual prototyping, simulation, and advanced digital tools early in the V-Model, organizations can achieve early alignment, stakeholder engagement, and rapid iteration. At the initial phases, improved stakeholder alignment and early customer feedback help validate desirability and UX quickly. This enables early stabilization of APIs and the end-to-end E/E architecture, ensuring robust foundations.

During virtual testing, fine-tuning features and validating variants accelerate development while reducing HIL testing costs and efforts. Later phases benefit from more flexibility due to a delayed HIL start, allowing focused testing. Finally, the overall process reduces homologation costs and efforts while improving system quality and integration efficiency.

Vision: #digitalfirst Vehicle Development Phases

The #digitalfirst approach envisions multiple iterations through the V-Model to optimize vehicle development and operations. It begins with Concept & Integration Landscape, focusing on lightweight mock-ups, API identification, and a holistic experience.

This evolves into Virtual Vehicle & Simulation, where virtual ECUs, bus systems, and physics simulations enable extensive testing, including variant analysis. This could be a full iteration through the V, resulting in a fully functional albeit virtual vehicle.

Hybrid Vehicle (Virtual + Real) integrates virtual testing with physical builds, complete HIL setups, and test fleets. Finally, Continuous Optimization supports OTA updates, continuous homologation, and rapid deployment of fixes, enhancements, and new features for seamless innovation and compliance.