HARMAN cooperates with the city university on automotive technology

Samsung Electronics-owned HARMAN, a Stamford-based player in connected car technology whose Global Capability Center (GCC) is located in Bengaluru, has signed on to PES University and worked with more than 25 students and eight faculty members to develop software that can power the next generation of cars.

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, which has driven the global software industry for decades, is now increasingly helping to shape the software that powers the next generation of cars for global markets.

“Bengaluru GCC acts as an essential engineering core connecting global R&D with scalable manufacturing and real-world deployment,” 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 will eventually find their way into vehicles sold in North America, Europe and Asia.

According to Mr. Kumar, the center is also innovating with leading universities in Bengaluru and fostering research collaborations that help translate emerging technologies into production-ready automotive solutions.

HARMAN engineers here also contribute to global industry and standards bodies such as the IEEE (New York-based Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and the Munich-based 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), helping to shape the future of connected mobility through next-generation technology standards.

A significant milestone for Bengaluru GCC was that the platform secured adoption by both Indian and global OEMs, Mr. Kumar said.

The company is the sole Tier 1 supplier for the cockpit and infotainment systems for Tata Motors, including its electric vehicles, all developed outside the city. The collaboration with Mahindra & Mahindra has delivered premium audio experiences in electric SUVs, while the long-standing partnership with Maruti Suzuki reflects the mainstreaming of connected features across vehicle segments.

“As the automotive industry becomes increasingly defined by software, Bengaluru is emerging as a key force behind the connected vehicles of tomorrow. The city also offers production-ready technologies for Indian and global OEMs,” Mr. Kumar further said.

Published – 19 Jul 2026 01:05 IST