BMW TechWorks India Launched: New Global Hub for AI, Business Processes

BMW Group and Tata Technologies have announced a new name for their joint venture: BMW TechWorks India. The newly formed organisation will leverage resources from BMW Group’s India and Munich operations as well as Tata Technologies, TCS and Tata Elxsi to not only develop software and new innovations for in-car systems, but also manage business and manufacturing processes for BMW Group across the world. 

The joint venture will have centres in Pune, Chennai and Bengaluru, and will scale up to employing over 1,000 people over the next year. At the launch event, BMW Group executives praised India’s young talent pool. BMW Group and Tata Technologies each hold 50 percent of the shares of this new entity.

Newly appointed CEO of BMW TechWorks India, Aditya Khera outlined a dual-pronged strategy for the firm, addressing in-car experiences and platforms as well as enterprise IT and business processes. As the industry moves towards connected and software-defined vehicles, the new company will take over responsibility for software experiences and over-the-air updates to ensure customer satisfaction. Other priorities include developing open infotainment platforms with third-party integrations, and autonomous driving. Software and AI are critical to BMW’s Neue Klasse strategy, especially navigation, over-the-air updates, voice interaction, hands-free semi-autonomous driving, and infotainment. 

On the business process site, BMW Group will focus on optimising its manufacturing processes with a focus on sustainability, as well as customer relationship management right from pre-purchase to after-sales experiences. BMW TechWorks India will also develop financial services and apply efficiencies to logistics operations and infrastructure in all BMW manufacturing plants around the world, starting with the APAC region. 

As an example of future customer experiences, a potential buyer could customise the configuration of their car, and BMW Group would be able to manufacture it on the same production line as multiple other models and variants, with little to no disruption. According to Alexander Buresch, CIO and SVP of IT, BMW Group, technology has gone from a supporting role to an essential business function. Software isn’t just part of a car, but is now part of the company. 

In a statement, Tata Technologies CEO and MD Warren Harris said “This JV will attract top talent and provide a platform to develop forward-thinking solutions that redefine the future of mobility.”

Cristoph Grote, SVP of Electronics and Software, BMW Group, said “BMW TechWorks India is a significant addition to our global vehicle software development initiatives. India’s software talent will be a great asset for our software defined vehicles of the future.”