Interview: How AI Is Significantly Improving Vehicle Quality

AI significantly improves vehicle quality

The rapid development of artificial intelligence is currently being driven primarily by the U.S. and China—Europe, by contrast, is pursuing a deliberately more regulated and values-driven approach. With the EU AI Act, the European Union is setting clear guardrails, particularly in sensitive areas such as mobility, which are classified as high-risk applications. A closer look at different regions shows how strongly cultural factors influence how technology is assessed and regulated. This reflects core European values: safety, social responsibility, and a responsible approach to technological risk. This very approach represents a strategic opportunity. If Europe succeeds in combining regulation with clarity, pragmatism, and sufficient speed, it can not only build trust but also establish itself as a global benchmark for quality-driven AI innovation.

Sachin Tikekar, Joint Managing Director, Co-Founder and Board Member, and Gaurav Kakati, CTO-AI of KPIT Technologies, discuss the use of AI in vehicles in an interview.

Mr. Tikekar, Mr. Kakati, artificial intelligence is currently transforming virtually every aspect of the automotive industry.

Where do you currently see the greatest strategic opportunity for manufacturers and suppliers?

Sachin Tikekar:
We firmly believe that AI delivers value across almost every part of industry. However, once the current hype subsides, the critical question will be: Which AI applications truly drive strategic differentiation and business impact? Where AI is applied effectively, time-to-market is significantly reduced. Faster market entry is not just about speed—it also enables more efficient capital allocation, as investments pay off sooner and value creation accelerates.

In which areas of vehicle development is artificial intelligence already creating the greatest technological value today?

Gaurav Kakati:
AI already delivers substantial value in vehicle functions, software development, as well as in design and physical engineering. In vehicles, AI powers autonomous driving, personalization, and advanced voice assistants. In development, it enables faster workflows, more precise testing, and measurably higher quality through simulation and automation. AI also plays a key role in cybersecurity and after-sales by supporting threat detection and diagnostics. Overall, AI significantly improves efficiency, quality, and development speed across the entire vehicle lifecycle.

AI can make mistakes—and vehicles can become targets of cyberattacks. How do you integrate cybersecurity into the development of AI and ADAS?

Gaurav Kakati:
Modern vehicles are digitally connected and therefore more vulnerable to attacks. With software-defined vehicles and AI, data volumes continue to grow—along with security requirements. Risks arise both externally, for example via telematics, and internally through error-prone AI systems. That is why security must be embedded from the outset.
Integrated protection mechanisms, regular testing, and continuous monitoring are essential. Secure over-the-air updates are especially critical to ensure vehicles remain protected throughout their operational life.

What role will specialized engineering partners like KPIT play in the transformation of the automotive industry?

Sachin Tikekar:
We see three decisive factors: expertise, speed, and scalability—combined with strong interdisciplinary capabilities. AI provides rapid access to globally available knowledge. We complement this with deep domain and engineering expertise built over many years to deliver meaningful value to OEMs and mobility companies.
By integrating software, functional safety, cybersecurity, and regulatory requirements, and enabling end-to-end traceability, we ensure transparency and reliability. Our objective is to bring innovations to certified, production-ready solutions faster, more safely, and with lower risk.

How will artificial intelligence assist us while driving in five years?

Gaurav Kakati:
AI will continue to become more powerful. This will enhance safety and efficiency while enabling predictive functions such as hazard avoidance and predictive maintenance. In the future, vehicles will increasingly adapt to driver behavior and needs, using lighting, music, or intelligent route selection to actively reduce stress and improve the overall driving experience.