HARMAN collaborates with city university on automobile tech
HARMAN partners with PES University to advance automotive software development, shaping the future of connected vehicles in Bengaluru.
You don’t have any Active Subscription.
Your active subscription(s)
Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription
Products you've access to
Additional Subscription Benefits
Need help with your subscription?
Published - July 19, 2026 01:05 am IST - Bengaluru
Samsung Electronics-owned HARMAN, a Stamford-based player in connected automotive technologies whose Global Capability Centre (GCC) is in Bengaluru, has roped in PES University and collaborated with over 25 students and eight faculty members on development of software that can power the next generation of automobiles.
HARMAN is also in talks with many other universities and colleges in Bengaluru for similar technology collaborations.
Krishna Kumar, Senior Vice President, Managing Director and Automotive Head, HARMAN India, said, Bengaluru that powered the world’s software industry for several decades, was now increasingly helping shape software that powers the next generation of automobiles for global markets.
“The Bengaluru GCC functions as a core engineering nucleus connecting global R&D with scalable manufacturing and real-world deployments,” said Mr. Kumar.
Nearly 80% of the company’s 4,000 automotive engineers in India are based in the City, and work on technologies that eventually find their way into vehicles sold across North America, Europe and Asia.
According to Mr. Kumar, the centre also co-innovates with leading universities in Bengaluru, fostering research collaborations that help translate emerging technologies into production-ready automotive solutions.
HARMAN’s engineers here also contribute to global industry and standards bodies such as the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, based in New York) and Munich-based 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), helping shape the future of connected mobility through next-generation technology standards.
A significant milestone for the Bengaluru GCC was that this platform has secured adoption from both Indian and global OEMs, Mr. Kumar said.
The company is the sole Tier 1 supplier for cockpit and infotainment systems for Tata Motors, including its electric vehicles, all developed out of the City. Collaborations with Mahindra & Mahindra have introduced premium in-car audio experiences in electric SUVs, while long-standing partnerships with Maruti Suzuki reflect the mainstreaming of connected features across vehicle segments.
“As the automotive industry becomes increasingly software-defined, Bengaluru is emerging as a pivotal force behind the connected vehicles of tomorrow. The City is also offering production-ready technologies for Indian and global OEMs,’’ Mr. Kumar further said.
Published - July 19, 2026 01:05 am IST
Terms & conditions | Institutional Subscriber
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.
