Magna CTO Kotagiri expects more collaboration as tech challenges rise

Magna International is racing to meet rising demand from automakers for connectivity and autonomous driving solutions. Magna Chief Technology Officer Swamy Kotagiri said that collaboration will be a key to success and he doesn't consider Google and Apple to be friends or foes to suppliers. He explained why in a recent interview with Automotive News Europe Correspondent David Jolley.

How important are partnerships for connected-car development?

I believe they are necessary. It is a more and more collaborative approach. Not just between automakers and Tier 1 suppliers or between automakers. For example, you really cannot develop a semiconductor chip at a car company.

Are Google and Apple friends or enemies to suppliers?

I personally don't see that as a friend or enemy question. There will always be new entrants in the market. Fifteen years ago there was no Tesla. Therefore, it is not so much about product, but changing the revenue model and what data can do.

Will we be driven around by autonomous vehicles as soon as some leading automakers say?

If the definition of autonomous is that you are in the driver's seat ready to take control if the system expects you to, then yes. If you are talking about truly autonomous where you are in the back seat or you don't have to be in the [driver's] seat, then no.

Are consumers telling you they want automated driving?

Yes, the automated driving features that make driving pleasurable when you want it and remove the monotony are definitely desirable and wanted by consumers.

What are the current hurdles to providing full in-car connectivity?

One issue to overcome is the seamless uninterrupted flow of data to a fully connected car, which means you can have the different systems in the car talking to each other efficiently. Another is infrastructure. Imagine I'm a soccer fan, for example, and I'm coming close to a stadium and there is a game going on and I have the possibility of data [from the stadium] that shows tickets are available. Another challenge is related to active safety. That could mean telling you that there is congestion ahead or help you deal with another car that doesn't seem like it's going to stop. How do you prevent or work around this? If you are able to address all of these cases, then you can say a vehicle is fully connected.

Connectivity is important with many car buyers. Is that accelerating the uptake of the technology and what are people demanding?

Right now, the consumer is only interested in the comfort and convenience side of connectivity. People are used to the connected way of life. If they get into a car they don't expect that to change. They want a transition from the outside to the inside of the car.

How serious is the risk of internet-enabled vehicles being hacked?

We are not sitting at a desk with a computer, we are in a vehicle that is moving and significantly interacting with a lot of variables. I would say it is an important question that needs to be addressed. A further ethical question is: Who owns the data? I buy the car, so since I own the car, is the data generated while I drive it owned by me? Or, since the components were sold by an automaker, should it go to them? Or to the supplier who built certain parts of the system and technology? That is a very debatable part.

How big a hurdle is legislation?

In the past, legislation [for issues such as seat belts] drove the technology. The coin has now flipped and it remains to be seen whether legislation remains an impediment [to autonomous driving] or whether there is a push from the consumer or automakers to get it to a certain point where it becomes an expected feature and they will provide it [the legislation] voluntarily. It's only a guess right now, but the legislation that used to take a significant amount of time to pass might now take a faster route.

Is Magna planning further acquisitions or partnerships in the area of connectivity or autonomous driving?

We will continue to look at all strategic areas. I won't pinpoint a field. We'll continue to look at a broad portfolio and see what's necessary.