FORVIA HELLA Advances the Development of Software-only Products with Newly Established Entity “Ignite by FORVIA HELLA”

“As it stands today, software has become indispensable for everyday mobility. It plays an essential role in driver assistance systems, comfort and safety features, in-vehicle entertainment, and vehicle connectivity. However, software will be even more vital for the mobility of the future, with the market expected to double over the next five years according to current estimates,” says Kay Talmi, Managing Director of Ignite by FORVIA HELLA. “We are among the most renowned electronics suppliers worldwide and already integrate software functionalities into many products in which we are market leaders. Against this backdrop, it is logical and promising to strategically address the software market from this robust foundation, supported by a dedicated unit established for this purpose.”

The main focus of development lies, on one hand, in software products that are closely linked to the core businesses of FORVIA HELLA’s three Business Groups — Lighting, Electronics, and Lifecycle Solutions. These include, on the one hand, business models in the field of lighting electronics or the processing and monetization of sensor data. On the other hand, Ignite by FORVIA HELLA is also working on entirely new software-only business models, such as the “Traffic Rules Engine” (TRE), which was introduced as a conceptual innovation at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 in Las Vegas and has since undergone significant further development.

This software module, developed in close cooperation with TÜV Rheinland, monitors the compliance of automated vehicles (SAE Level 3 and higher) with applicable regulations, traffic laws, and case law based on sensor and map data. The solution is tailored to the specific country in which the automated vehicle will be deployed. Planned maneuvers are assessed for legal admissibility on the same basis. Should a deviation be detected, real-time feedback is provided to the vehicle control system. To ensure that the latest regulations of each country are always applied, the TRE can be continuously updated over-the-air.

The target is to integrate the TRE into a vehicle for the first time by year-end and to have TÜV Rheinland validate the software on a test track, using real-world traffic scenarios. The initial focus will be on highway driving, with vehicles classified under SAE Level 3 (“highly automated driving”), wherein certain tasks can be executed independently and without human intervention.