The Hindu Business Line : KPIT focussing on embedded systems for hybrid cars

Hyderabad, Jan. 4 Embedded technology solutions provider for automotive industry KPIT Cummins Infosystems Ltd is working on on-board bi-fuel management systems for hybrid cars and unmanned tractors, the latter that could be operated through satellite info systems.

For hybrid cars, the focus is now on cars run by hydrogen fuel cells.

With the automotive industry slowly but surely drifting to hybrid cars aimed at both conservation and improved fuel efficiency, the embedded software in automotives has become a new thrust area for KPIT, the Chairman and Group CEO, Mr S.B. Ravi Pandit, said.

Areas of operation

During his visit to Hyderabad recently, Mr Pandit told Business Line that the company’s operations span Pune, Bangalore, a small centre in Hyderabad and another overseas centre in Poland that serves the automotive companies in the European Union.

The company currently employs about 4,200 people and plans to add about 2,000 by next year and concurrently, the Hyderabad centre is also being expanded to host about 300 to 400 engineers, he said.

TRACEABILITY issue

The automotive industry is working on the issue of traceability of auto components that go into respective models. This helps automakers when they are carrying out servicing and also during vehicle recall to replace specific auto component. Since each batch has different set of auto parts, the issue of traceability has assumed importance for carmakers, Mr Pandit said.

“We have partnered with the likes of Hitachi and Mitsubishi through Renaisa and with six of the top 20 chip makers in the world working on application specific integrated circuits and embedded software that gets into them. Original design solutions companies are keen to tap into expert resources. All these years, the focus was on international markets, but we are evaluating the Indian automotive manufacturers lately,” he said

Last fiscal, the company closed with revenues of $103 million and is on course to achieve revenues of about $145-$148 million.