Collaborative Momentum in the AI-Defined Vehicle Era

At last year’s SOAFEE APAC Seminar, Panasonic Automotive Systems’ Jerry Zhao sat down to discuss the growing importance of regional collaboration and the shared progress toward software-defined and AI-defined vehicles. As a global tier-1 supplier and leader of the SOAFEE APAC Regional Hub, Jerry highlighted how SOAFEE’s open and inclusive framework brings together OEMs, suppliers, SoC vendors, and IT providers to build interoperability across both open-source and commercial software ecosystems. This cross-industry alignment, he noted, is critical as automotive development accelerates into a software-first future.

The SOAFEE APAC community now represents nearly 40% of SOAFEE’s total membership, underscoring the region’s growing influence. Local seminars, such as the upcoming events in Shanghai and Bangalore, make participation more accessible and encourage richer, real-time collaboration across time zones. For Jerry, this dynamic environment is not just about technology—it’s about people sharing ideas freely, bridging expertise, and driving innovation together. As the ecosystem prepares for the next wave of SOAFEE seminars, this spirit of openness continues to define the path toward scalable, intelligent automotive systems.