Meet the people building the SDV

Dr. Ananda Kumar Akkarapaka is the Director and Country Head of Technical Marketing for Automotive at Infineon Technologies India. Bringing 25 years of foundational expertise in power electronics, electric drives, and automotive systems, Dr. Kumar is a leading figure in the e-mobility transition. His extensive engineering portfolio features the successful development of high-performance traction converters, advanced EV charging systems, robust Battery Management Systems (BMS), and specialized power conversion technologies — bridging cutting-edge semiconductor innovation with strategic market growth.

Bharti Goyal Maan is an automotive and mobility leader with over two decades of experience driving large-scale engineering transformation programmes for global OEMs. As Vice President and India Client Leader for Automotive at Capgemini, she leads strategic portfolios spanning software-defined vehicles, digital cockpit, and enterprise platforms. Bharti has built and scaled global engineering teams across India and international markets, working closely with OEM leadership on SDV strategy and operating models. She brings a strong blend of industry, technology, and execution experience, with a focus on enabling India's growth as a global hub for automotive software, talent, and innovation.

Anuraag Bharadwaj is Vice President and Head of the Automotive Industry Platform at Capgemini, recognized for driving global automotive transformation. With 32+ years of experience, he leads flagship initiatives in SDV, SDM, connected mobility, Digital Twin engineering, EV and hydrogen ecosystems, and IT/OT modernization. His thought leadership spans AI-enabled automotive experiences, supply-chain reinvention, and new mobility business models. Anuraag is a frequent industry voice at global forums, shaping perspectives on sustainable and software-driven mobility.

Amit is a technology leader in automotive software, connected vehicles, and IoT, with more than 25 years of experience delivering large-scale software engineering programs for leading global automotive OEMs. Over the course of his career, he has led multidisciplinary teams in designing and building connected vehicle platforms, cloud-based data solutions, and software products that enable next-generation mobility services. In his current role at Stellantis, Amit is a leader in Connected Services Engineering with a focus on vehicle data collection platforms, enabling scalable, secure, and reliable data-driven services across multiple vehicle brands. His expertise spans connected vehicle architecture, cloud technologies, software platforms, and engineering leadership. Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) is a key area of interest for Amit — he has authored technical publications, presented at industry conferences, and actively contributes to discussions on the future of automotive software, connected mobility, and the digital transformation of the automotive industry.

Akshay is a product and technology leader in the automotive domain with around 25 years of global experience spanning product management, engineering, enterprise solutioning, domain leadership, and strategic partnerships. As a Lead Product Manager at Stellantis, he drives product strategy for connected vehicle data platforms and contributes to shaping the next generation of Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) technologies. Prior to Stellantis, as a Product Manager at Juniper Networks, he led product for the Multi-Service Edge (MSE) telecommunications portfolio. He is a Certified Product Manager (CPM) from AIPMM and holds an executive postgraduate degree from IIM Kozhikode in Finance and Operations, along with a certification in Product Development and Design Methods from IISc. He has delivered innovative, customer-centric solutions for leading Fortune 500 companies, co-authored a book, published technical papers, and spoken at numerous industry conferences. He is passionate about leveraging technology, data, and innovation to create value for customers and stakeholders.

Yogesh Umbarkar is the Founder of Tecmotiv Solutions, Co-Founder of Tech4Earth Mobility Foundation, and Board Advisor to Astron Aerospace (USA), with over 20 years of leadership experience in the global automotive and mobility technology industry. He specializes in Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV), Connected Mobility, Mobility Intelligence, Battery Management Systems (BMS), Digital Engineering, and technology commercialization. Throughout his career, Yogesh has led market expansion and strategic partnerships across India and the Asia-Pacific region for global technology companies, including Valtech Mobility, Eatron Technologies, Ricardo, and Convergent Science. He is passionate about building Mobility Intelligence platforms that connect OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, technology companies, startups, government, and investors to accelerate innovation. A recognized industry speaker and moderator, Yogesh actively drives B2B and B2G collaboration, fostering strategic partnerships that shape the future of connected, software-defined, and intelligent mobility.

Shyam Sundar is a Senior Analyst at Frost & Sullivan's Mobility Research Practice, leveraging over 10+ years of experience with Daimler and Volvo across key strategic functions. His areas of focus are Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), alternative powertrains, connected mobility, and V2X technologies. With a deep understanding of emerging automotive trends, Shyam works with global automotive clients at Frost & Sullivan to deliver data-driven insights enabling them to navigate the evolving mobility landscape.

Kamalesh Mohanarangam is a strategy and product leadership professional with over 15 years of experience in the global automotive and mobility industry. As Associate Director and Global Head of Connected, Autonomous, and Software-Defined Vehicles Research at Frost & Sullivan, he leads research and advisory initiatives focused on software-defined vehicles, ADAS, autonomous driving, and digital mobility. He has advised global automotive OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and technology companies on product strategy, market expansion, investment decisions, and growth opportunities. Before joining Frost & Sullivan, he worked alongside JETRO to support Japanese automotive SMEs entering the Indian market, and worked on market entry and growth strategy consulting engagements.

Latha is a dynamic business leader with more than three decades of experience. She is the founder and CEO of AutoAscend, focused on strategy and technology consulting in the mobility domain, and leadership coaching and mentoring. She is a strategy and technology advisor for several Tier-1s and service organizations in India, and an external advisor for consulting firms including Bain & Co and Zinnov. She is also part of the thinktank in the Prime Minister's PSA office that defines e-mobility policy for India, and the Karnataka government's vision group for skill building for the state. Until June 2025 she was Vice President and Head of Technical Center India of Continental Automotive, responsible for engineering competence for global and local markets, focusing on Autonomous Mobility and Safety, and Vehicle Networking and Information business areas, along with several Centers of Excellence in new technology areas. Before Continental, Latha headed the powertrain and electrification business of Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions, and earlier worked with Siemens Information Systems across engineering and business development roles in multiple countries. Latha is known for her inclusive style of leadership and has played an important role in developing the tech women community for the last two decades. She has received several industry accolades, including the Top 10 Technology Women Leaders in India award, the Solidarity Idol award at CXO level, the WILL Women's Choice award, a DE&I Tech Leadership award in 2024, a Top AI Influential Leaders award, and recognition among Exemplary GCC Leaders of India in the CXO category in 2024. She is a well-known speaker on business, technology, leadership and diversity, and is a certified coach, also certified in behaviour analysis and mentoring.

Dr. Narendra Jha is Founder & CEO of Eva2z (Evatoz Solutions Pvt Ltd), a Noida-based, privacy-first connected-vehicle platform on a mission to make India's roads safer. Eva2z turns any vehicle into a safe, contactable, connected asset through a free QR safety sticker with one-tap SOS, GPS/IoT telematics, and a DPDP-grade privacy and consent layer that powers usage-based insurance and driver-risk scoring. Bootstrapped with zero outside capital, the platform is already live with 12,000+ downloads, 2,000 vehicles streaming data daily, and 500 paying subscribers. A serial entrepreneur, Narendra previously bootstrapped Gozipp to ₹6 Cr ARR and scaled Planet Retail's software to 1,000+ clients. He holds an MBA (FMS Delhi), a B.Tech and a PhD, and mentors founders at the Wadhwani Foundation. He speaks on connected mobility, the automotive data economy, usage-based insurance, and building privacy-first, recurring-revenue software in India.

Sneha A. Ghorpade currently holds the position of Senior Manager in the Automotive Electronics department at the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). She earned her degree in Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering from Pune University and brings 14 years of experience in EMI/EMC, ITS, and cyber security. In her role, she oversees EMC and Cyber Security Management System (CSMS) certification, Software Update Management System (SUMS) evaluation testing across EV, HEV, conventional and CEV platforms, product evaluation against non-automotive and military requirements, establishment of testing infrastructure, and the formulation of Automotive Industry Standards for EMC and Intelligent Transport Systems. She is an internal auditor certified in ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 45001:2018, and has dedicated the last 14 years of her career to ARAI.

Mr. M. M. Desai is presently Deputy Director of the Automotive Electronics department at ARAI. He graduated in Electronics Engineering from Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli, and with over 26 years of professional journey has spent over 24 years at ARAI. As Deputy Director, he is responsible for certification testing of electric and hybrid-electric vehicles; assessment of electric/hybrid-electric vehicles for the FAME-India government incentive scheme; establishing testing infrastructure for electric and hybrid-electric vehicles; formulation of Automotive Industry Standards for electric, hybrid-electric and fuel-cell vehicles, and for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), cyber security and OTA updates; and certification of automotive cyber security and Software Update Management Systems (OTA). He also oversees evaluation testing of automotive electronics systems and vehicles for electromagnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC). An active industry member, Mr. Desai has published papers including 'Study of Various Methodologies for Calibration of Electromagnetic Emission Antennas' at AdMet-2012, 'Performance and dynamic charge acceptance estimation of different Lithium-ion batteries for electric and hybrid electric vehicles' at IEEE ITEC-India 2017, and two SAE Technical Papers at SIAT 2024 on electromagnetic emissions for electric powertrains and e-motors. Mr. Desai is an avid reader and a cricket fan who enjoys tinkering with Linux in his free time.

Puneet Aggarwal is a visionary leader in Sustainable IoT and Smart Mobility, with over 20 years of experience in transformative technology. At Jio Platforms, he drives next-gen IoT solutions for sustainable transportation, connected automotive, eMobility, and location intelligence. Puneet is a Carnegie Mellon alumnus, having earned his MS in Computer Science, where he worked on cutting-edge projects that laid the foundation for his future endeavors. With a rich background in IoT, transportation, cloud computing, smart automation, and mobile technology, he is passionate about solving complex challenges and mentoring future leaders. An accomplished entrepreneur, Puneet has founded two startups in the IoT space, demonstrating his ability to innovate and lead in emerging technologies. He spearheads initiatives integrating AI, blockchain, edge computing, 5G, smart devices, and cloud computing — creating platforms for electric vehicles, automotive OEMs, fleet and logistics, charging infrastructure, and location services — and leads a dynamic team dedicated to tech innovation and growth.

Neeraj Bansal is the Head of India Global at KPMG in India and a senior partner with close to three decades of experience in risk consulting. He leads cross-border strategic initiatives and supports global growth under the India Global banner. Neeraj has deep expertise in supply chain transformation, having led major engagements across FMCG, pharma, EPC and other sectors. He has served over 500 clients across 15+ countries and holds strong ties with KPMG member firms across the Asia-Pacific region. His advisory spans international trade, regulatory frameworks and global sourcing strategies. Neeraj has contributed to multiple government and industry forums, including FICCI, CII and the Central Government Task Force. A prolific thought leader, he has authored 100+ articles and 75+ reports and is a frequent speaker at global conferences. He has received numerous industry awards, including in supply chain and real estate, and in 2024 received the Exemplary Business Leadership Award at the Indo-UK Global Business Conclave at the House of Commons.

Girish Kamala is Senior Director and Country Head of Sales – Automotive at Infineon Technologies, based in Bangalore. He heads the Automotive segment in India and is responsible for the light electric vehicle (LEV) business across Asia-Pacific. With teams located in Bangalore, Pune and Delhi, his focus spans local OEMs and Tier-1s, global customers and startups in the automotive domain. Girish has close to 30 years of global experience in the automotive and semiconductor industry across product design and development, product management, customer development, sales and program management. Prior to Infineon, he was Vice President and Head of Key Accounts and Sales at Continental Automotive, and previously led the Somic ZF joint venture for ZF, responsible for engineering and sales. Between 1994 and 2010, he held Engineering and Sales leadership roles at Fisher Dynamics and TRW in Michigan, working on passive safety, active safety systems and seating systems. He holds an MBA from Michigan State University, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University, and a BE (Mechanical) from UVCE, Bangalore.

Dr Anand Lakshmanan (Senior Member IEEE, Fellow IETE) is a strategic leader with technical and management expertise in telecommunications, computing and related technologies. He holds a doctorate in engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and later earned an MBA (Finance) and a postgraduate certification in Leadership Excellence from IIM Ahmedabad. Dr Anand has travelled and collaborated with teams across the United States, Europe and the APAC region on the engineering of innovative product lines tailored to market-specific goals, contributing to customer success stories across geographies and multisite cultures. Since 2016 he has designed and delivered courses as an Adjunct Professor at IIIT Design and Manufacturing, Kanchipuram, as a Visiting Professor (2022–24) at Amrita School of Computing, and more recently as a Mentor for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam; he was also associated with L&T EdTech on technical content for online learning from 2020 to 2022. He is currently Senior Project Advisor at the Centre of Excellence for Advanced Automotive Research, an independent research society started by IIT Madras, where he leads research initiatives in AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) as applied to automobiles and software-defined vehicles (SDV). He is a frequent conference speaker on the future of the automotive industry, particularly EV, SDV and related niche technology areas.

Saumya Agarwal is Deputy General Manager for the Software Domain – Engineering IT Solutions at Daimler Truck Innovation Center India (DTICI). Full biography to be confirmed ahead of the summit.

Srinivasa Prasad M N is Associate Director of Industry X at Accenture's ATCi, India, where he drives strategy and practice for Software Defined Vehicles (SDV) and vehicle electrification. With 18 years of automotive experience, he is recognized for his transformational leadership and innovation-focused approach in shaping next-generation mobility solutions. Previously, Srinivasa served as Director of Vehicle Electrification at VinFast, Vietnam, leading flagship vehicle E/E platform development and cost optimization. He has also held leadership roles at FEV India, INTEVA, and Bosch, building deep expertise in vehicle engineering and delivery excellence. Holding a Master's in Automotive Engineering and a management degree from IIM Bangalore, Srinivasa combines strong technical grounding with business acumen to scale organizations, deliver operational impact and lead industry transformation.

Karthikeyan Balasubramanian is the Director of Connectivity Platforms at Volvo Group, Bangalore, heading the department responsible for delivering onboard connected solutions across Volvo Group products — Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks, Volvo Buses and Volvo Construction Equipment. In earlier roles at Volvo Group, he was a Group Manager responsible for Software Development, Systems, Cybersecurity and Verification groups, and Product Manager for the Telematics Platforms, catering to end-to-end connectivity solutions. Before taking on leadership responsibilities, he was a Software Architect for one of Volvo's connectivity platforms. A 2004 graduate, he brings 21+ years of experience in embedded systems, spanning automotive ECU software development, digital video broadcast, and DSP/multimedia and DSP/wireless applications. He is passionate about connectivity technologies and research on next-generation connected solutions. He holds a B.E. in Electronics and Communication from Bharathiar University and an M.Tech in Quality Management from BITS Pilani.

Dr. Ragothaman Arjunan is a distinguished automotive R&D professional with over 25 years of experience in vehicle engineering, product development, advanced research, and technology strategy within the commercial vehicle sector. He currently serves as Assistant General Manager – Vehicle Engineering at Volvo Group India Private Limited, Bengaluru. Recognized as an industry thought leader, researcher, author, and keynote speaker, he is known for driving innovation in sustainability, performance engineering, and future mobility. He holds a Post-Doctoral Fellowship (PDF), a PhD in Composite Materials, an M.E. in Computer Aided Design, a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, and an MBA in Project Management — a multidisciplinary academic background that enables a holistic approach to engineering, leadership, and research. Dr. Ragothaman Arjunan is a patent holder, book author, and prolific researcher with 18 publications in reputed journals and international conferences. Through his research, publications, and speaking engagements, he inspires professionals, students, and aspiring engineers to embrace innovation, lifelong learning, and excellence in shaping the future of mobility.

Pramod Nanjundaswamy is a technology leader with over 25 years' experience in EV systems, ADAS, embedded engineering and software-defined mobility. At ALTEN India, he plays a pivotal role in driving next-generation mobility programs for global OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers, with a focus on scalable, high-performance engineering solutions.

Nishanth Laxman has been working as a Project Manager in the Safety Engineering department at Fraunhofer IESE in Kaiserslautern since 2021, and is a final-year Doctoral Researcher at RPTU Kaiserslautern. He manages publicly funded German, EU, and international research projects, alongside industry projects in automotive, mobile robotics, and medical devices, focusing on autonomous systems and safety. He has collaborated with customers from Germany, Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Canada. Currently, he is leading the third iteration of the German lighthouse project for autonomous mobility, "CONTROL," and is responsible for safety argumentation and safety assurance. His main research focus includes safety assurance, safety under uncertainty, and continuous assurance for autonomous systems, with his doctoral research centered on field-data-based incremental assurance of autonomous systems using SPIs. Originally from Bangalore, India, he moved to Germany for his Master's in Commercial Vehicle Technology and has been living there for over 14 years.

Dr. Archak Mittal is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. He brings extensive industry experience from his tenure at Ford Motor Company and Leidos Corporation, where he worked on cutting-edge connected and automated vehicle technologies. His research focuses on developing innovative solutions for modern transportation challenges, particularly in the areas of connected vehicles, traffic flow optimization, and intelligent transportation systems. He combines advanced simulation modeling, machine learning, and real-world data analysis to create practical solutions for urban mobility, bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical applications in the rapidly evolving field of transportation technology. Dr. Mittal earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University and has been recognized with several prestigious awards. He holds a Professional Engineer license in Virginia (Lic. No: 067830) and was elected as an Associate of the Indian Academy of Sciences in 2024.

Sudhakar Molleti is a senior automotive engineering leader with deep expertise in embedded systems, High Performance Computing (HPC), and Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) platforms. He leads the SDV line of business at Tata Technologies, where he drives strategy, delivery excellence, and capability growth across complex automotive software programs. He brings strong hands-on experience in embedded software, AUTOSAR (Classic and Adaptive), embedded Linux, CI/CD, virtualization, and modern SDV architectures, including zonal and domain-based computing, with his work spanning technical consulting, solution architecture, and large-scale program delivery for global OEMs and Tier-1 customers. Sudhakar is known for building high-performing engineering teams, improving process maturity (ASPICE, ISO 26262), and translating advanced technology into scalable, production-ready solutions.

Dr. Subramani Ailoor has spent over a decade at Renault-Nissan, progressing from General Manager to Vice President of R&D through a passionate commitment to advancing automotive technologies. At the heart of his work lies a dedication to R&D and team leadership, empowering efforts to develop new energy systems, CASE, and sustainable mobility solutions. Collaborating with a diverse team, he has fostered an environment of open innovation and co-development, an approach that has kept the organization at the forefront of the automotive industry — consistently contributing to global and regional technology needs and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in R&D and product development.

Naveen Kalappa is Senior Vice President and Global Head of Embedded Systems & Software at Tata Technologies. Full biography to be confirmed ahead of the summit.

Saravana Thamaram is a strategic business and innovation leader with over 20 years of experience in automotive software, ADAS, and Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) ecosystems. He has held leadership roles across global organisations including Mercedes-Benz, the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Visteon and Qorix. Saravana specialises in bridging technology, innovation and business strategy to accelerate next-generation mobility solutions. He actively contributes to SDV ecosystem collaborations, platform strategy, and intelligent mobility transformation across global markets. He holds a BE in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and completed the Senior Management Programme (SMP) at IIM Ahmedabad.

Dr. Vishal Saraswat, Head of Bosch Cybersecurity University, is a leader in the field of applied and practical cryptography, and drives cybersecurity research and innovation, competence development and crypto services at Bosch Global Software Technologies. His expertise includes anonymity and privacy in communication protocols, confidential computing, searchable encryption, lightweight cryptography, post-quantum crypto, and blockchain security. Dr. Saraswat is a Distinguished Expert on the Board of Academics of the Department of Mathematics, MNNIT Allahabad, India, is an executive committee member of the Cryptology Research Council of India, and has served on the editorial boards of several security and cryptography journals. He earned his Ph.D. in Cryptography from the University of Minnesota, USA, and has served at several prestigious institutions including the University of Minnesota, IIT Jammu, IIT Hyderabad, ISI Kolkata, University of Hyderabad, and AIMSCS, Hyderabad. He has led multiple funded projects, supervised several Ph.D., M.Tech and M.S. students, filed multiple patents, published extensively in reputed international journals and conferences, and has co-authored the book "Introduction to Cryptography", which makes cryptography more accessible for researchers. He has consulted and trained for various intelligence agencies, defence organisations, policymakers, academic institutions and industry organisations, and actively engages in raising cybersecurity awareness among non-specialists through popular media contributions. In addition to his cybersecurity research, Dr. Saraswat is passionate about planetary health and environmental preservation, leading research on the ecological impact of emerging technologies and spearheading the "Green Cybersecurity" initiative at BGSW.

Omkar Damodare is Head of the Cybersecurity Solution field at ETAS, India. In his current capacity, Omkar is responsible for cybersecurity business growth including P&L, strategic acquisitions, strategic initiatives and external partner management. With over a decade of working experience in Japan and Germany, he actively contributes to creating awareness on cybersecurity compliance within the Indian automotive industry, and is an invited member of the panel on AIS189 and AIS190. Omkar is a seasoned automotive professional with 18 years of experience across software development, systems engineering, E/E architecture design and vehicle testing.

Dr Vinod Venkateswaran is a Senior Industry Principal at Infosys with over 28 years of multi-faceted experience across technology consulting, engineering management and operations, consistently delivering business results. He has established new service lines, P&L models and go-to-market strategies, and has conceptualised and built innovation centres that allow clients to experiment, rapidly prototype new ideas and technologies, and deliver immersive customer experiences. Vinod has nurtured relationships with client executive decision makers and managed a global delivery unit with annual revenue of $12 million and 20% growth. He has institutionalised practices for operational excellence and consistently exceeded customer satisfaction targets, and was part of the leadership team that created a niche engineering consulting service line — growing that practice and influencing downstream business.

T Murrali (also known as Murrali Thalor) is Associate Editor for the Automotive Vertical at MOTORINDIA Group, where he is responsible for the MOTORINDIA, AFTERMARKET & SERVICE and EV TECH NEWS print magazines and their digital publications.

Sailesh Mohan is a versatile automotive industry professional with over 12 years of experience driving product strategy and market intelligence across global markets. Currently serving as Senior Program Manager for ADAS/AD and SDV at MarketsandMarkets, he helps industry leaders translate technological disruptions into commercial growth. Drawing from a strong background in future mobility during his tenure at ZF Friedrichshafen, Knorr-Bremse and OEMs including Daimler and Volvo-Eicher, Sailesh specialises in evaluating emerging technologies, with a proven track record of transforming complex customer and competitor insights into actionable recommendations that enhance product competitiveness. He holds a Master's in Automotive Electronics Engineering, and his core expertise spans autonomous and connected mobility.

Kaushik Madhavan is Vice President and Head of Consulting at MarketsandMarkets, where he leads the Mobility Advisory and Consulting practice. With over 25 years of experience in the automotive industry, he specialises in strategic consulting, market research, competitive intelligence, benchmarking, market entry and diversification strategies, consumer analysis, strategic planning and technology benchmarking. His expertise spans powertrain, alternative fuels, hybridisation, vehicle electrification and ecosystem development. Previously, Kaushik led Global Powertrain Consulting and the Global Innovation Centre at Frost & Sullivan, and was part of Nissan Motor India's Product Planning team, contributing to the launch of the Datsun brand in India. He has served as a jury member for the Apollo CV Awards and the Auto Tech Review Automotive Technology Awards, and is a columnist for ET Autologue. A frequent speaker and moderator at leading automotive forums, Kaushik holds an MSc in Automotive Systems Engineering from RWTH Aachen University and a BE in Mechanical Engineering from R.V. College of Engineering.