The Cloud Advantage: Accelerating automotive design with Capital X

Accelerating automotive design is a moving target for many companies, especially when it comes to electrical and electronic (E/E) systems development. The automotive industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by rapid advancements in technology and evolving consumer demands. Automotive OEMs and startups alike face significant challenges, from optimizing development processes to staying competitive in a landscape that demands faster innovation, reduced costs and seamless global collaboration.

As the industry moves toward electrification, connected vehicles and increasingly complex E/E systems, computing in the cloud offers many benefits that help companies to maintain their edge. Siemens Capital X is a robust, cloud-based solution that stands to improve the way automotive companies approach E/E systems design. Leveraging the solution’s digital twin and digital thread capabilities, organizations benefit from:

• Ease and speed of access and administration
• Cost efficient deployment
• Security
• Smoother collaboration

Because Capital X is operated by Siemens as a software as a service (SaaS) offering, it delivers advanced security features, ensuring data is protected while enabling global teams to work seamlessly.

Companies gain speed and agility

Many companies operate under tight deadlines to scale production and beat competitors to market with innovative products. This requires the flexibility and agility of a cloud-based solution.

Capital X enables companies to eliminate the need for costly and time-consuming IT infrastructure setup. By gaining instant access to a comprehensive suite of E/E design tools, startups can focus their limited resources on innovation rather than infrastructure.

Like Capital, Capital X empowers engineers with the ability to dynamically group functions into virtual electronic control units (ECUs), so they can quickly explore diverse system architectures and fine-tune design characteristics – performance, weight, power consumption and more – without building a physical prototype. Working in the cloud, geographically dispersed teams can collaborate efficiently to build innovative solutions and secure a competitive advantage.

Cost savings for all: continuous upgrades and simplified IT operations

Whether you’re at a large OEM or a start-up, the up front and subsequent operational costs of maintaining on-premises systems can be staggering. Traditional IT infrastructure often require regular hardware upgrades, manual software installations, and dedicated teams to manage global operations. These challenges are further compounded by the need to align systems across multiple locations and teams, which can complicate rollouts and increase administrative costs.

Capital X as a SaaS solution (operated and provided by Siemens) reduces the burden of operational costs, offering continuous upgrades that keep systems up to date. This means no more resource-intensive upgrade projects.

For OEMs, the transition to SaaS frees up valuable resources to focus on innovation rather than maintenance, and for startups, it enables seamless scalability without infrastructure constraints.

OEMs can find security in the cloud

A survey of C-Suite executives conducted by Oracle said security is the top benefit of cloud computing. As the automotive landscape grows more complex, the benefits of the cloud become undeniable.

Capital X delivers a secure cloud with advanced encryption, regular security updates, and industry-compliant safeguards, it ensures that sensitive design data is protected. In the cloud, OEMs can manage global teams seamlessly, ensure data consistency and  mitigate the risk of localized system failures.

This enhanced security is complemented by Capital X bringing all the same capabilities and workflow experience as the core Capital product suite. This includes the ability to streamline and simplify the design process. For example, real-time design-rule checks verify accuracy, as designs are created, reducing the likelihood of errors that could lead to costly rework or compliance issues. This enables OEMs to more rapidly adopt bleeding-edge technology – and innovate more rapidly – without compromising the security and integrity of their valuable data.

Empowering collaboration across teams and startups

Collaboration and innovation within large automotive companies are increasingly taking inspiration from the startup world. Many legacy OEMs have recognized that traditional hierarchies and processes can stifle the rapid innovation required to stay competitive in an era dominated by rapidly emerging trends: electrification, autonomous driving and advanced connectivity, to name a few.

In such cases, effective collaboration is essential, and cloud-based systems like Capital X are vital. Its dynamic, flexible tools allow engineers to quickly iterate and optimize system architectures without being hampered by legacy infrastructure or outdated processes. Engineers can share insights, explore design tradeoffs, and align on system requirements. The platform’s comprehensive digital thread ensures that all stakeholders have a clear view of the project lifecycle, reducing miscommunication while supporting risk management and compliance. Capital X ensures that all members of the design team get the same consistent environment and experience tailored to their needs wherever they are globally

Capital X – A natural fit for accelerating automotive design

According to Lifecycle Insights CEO and Chief Analyst Chad Jackson, “Cloud-based solutions are a natural fit for organizations that desire high levels of both flexibility and functionality but want to keep costs down” – and Capital X delivers on these important benefits. From enhancing data security for legacy OEMs to empowering startups with agility and cost savings, it provides a cloud-based E/E design platform that meets the diverse needs of today’s automotive innovators.

Learn more about Capital X or contact sales today to get started!