IPG Automotive Showcases Collaboration with Synopsys to Accelerate Software-Defined Vehicle Development

At CES 2026, IPG Automotive will present the next phase of its strategic collaboration with Synopsys, extending joint virtualization solutions to include the latest Systems-on-Chip (SoC) and domain controllers. This collaboration enables automotive manufacturers to accelerate software-defined vehicle (SDV) development through high-fidelity digital twins and advanced virtual testing.

As SDVs grow in complexity, traditional validation methods, for example based on Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) setups and physical prototypes, are costly and slow. IPG Automotive and Synopsys address these challenges with a fully virtualized workflow that allows rapid, accurate integration and testing of vehicle behaviour, electronics, and software long before hardware is available.

During CES 2026, Synopsys and IPG Automotive are demonstrating an expanded multi-ECU prototype with multi-fidelity, multi-ECU electronics simulation integrating CarMaker from IPG Automotive and Synopsys’ virtualization technologies via SIL Kit. The prototype aims to accelerate the development of SoC-based electronics and system software, enable rapid, reliable SDV validation and establish a continuous test strategy that together help improve software quality, reduce development and post-sale warranty costs, and enable faster time to market. The prototype illustrates the power of the IPG Automotive and Synopsys collaboration including:

• Virtualization leadership: CarMaker from IPG Automotive delivers an industry-leading virtual vehicle platform for comprehensive digital twins.
• Electronics virtualization: Synopsys virtualizes ECUs, SoCs, and Domain Controllers for seamless integration and validation.
• Early access to digital twins: Engineers can work with fully functional electronics digital twins well before physical prototypes or HIL test benches are available.
• Rapid software validation: Engineers can obtain test results in hours, rather than weeks, utilizing the capabilities from IPG Automotive and Synopsys to accelerate SDV software release cycles.

Both companies emphasized the transformative impact of virtualization on SDV development:

“The automotive industry is rapidly shifting to software-defined vehicles, and virtualization is a critical enabler for OEMs to make this transformation,” said Tom De Schutter, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Synopsys. “By combining Synopsys’ virtualization solutions that enable electronics digital twins with IPG Automotive’s vehicle and environment simulation capabilities, we are empowering OEMs to validate software earlier in the vehicle development cycle to reduce integration risk, enable a more reliable start of production, and accelerate time-to-market.”

Echoing this vision, Steffen Schmidt, President & CEO of IPG Automotive, added: “The future of vehicle development is software-driven, and virtualization unlocks that future today. The collaboration delivers a complete digital twin environment to reduce time-to-market and ensure top quality for next-generation mobility.”

IPG Automotive and Synopsys will continue working with leading SoC vendors to validate next-generation architectures, positioning both companies at the forefront of automotive innovation.