With the tectonic shift towards electrification and SDVs, the renowned CAD tool offered by the French technology giant has advanced beyond mechanical design to encompass electrical, electronic, and software engineering.
07 Nov 2024 | 8456 Views | By Mayank Dhingra
CATIA, which is the flagship design tool of the French technology major Dassault Systemes, and is widely renowned across the automotive and aerospace industries as a key enabler of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE), is transforming itself to meet the changing needs of the two sectors.
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CATIA, which is the flagship design tool of the French technology major Dassault Systemes, and is widely renowned across the automotive and aerospace industries as a key enabler of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE), is transforming itself to meet the changing needs of the two sectors.
As the automotive industry undergoes an accelerated shift towards electrification and software-defined vehicles (SDVs), CATIA too is expanding its horizon to advance beyond just mechanical design and engineering, to incorporate electronic, electrical as well as software engineering, and enable companies to undertake a full spectrum of design needs.
According to Oliver Sappin, CEO, CATIA, Dassault Systemes, “When CATIA was first developed 43 years ago, its focus was on designing complex vehicle systems such as the engine and transmission, primarily through digital mock-ups. Over the past two decades, however, the requirements have expanded, with the industry increasingly moving toward a virtual twin approach.”
“In response, CATIA has advanced beyond just mechanical design to encompass electrical, electronic, and software engineering. This shift reflects a comprehensive systems engineering approach that views vehicles and other products as complete systems rather than collections of individual components,” he added.
According to Sappin, today CATIA is being used by a diverse range of professionals like mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineers allowing Dassault Systemes to serve not only the automotive industry but also sectors like aerospace, industrial equipment, and large-scale infrastructure. “This evolution enables CATIA to support the full spectrum of design needs in a truly integrated manner, aligning with the demands of modern engineering,” he mentioned.
In India, CATIA has been deeply connected with the evolution of the country’s automotive industry, right from the early 1990s, when the Indian market was delicensed and saw the foray of several global giants with their revolutionary products. Indian OEMs such as Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra also started introducing their products, and have since been some of the key clients for Dassault Systemes in India.
“CATIA has consistently offered foundational solutions for the automotive industry and to address specific needs in India, we have local teams dedicated to understanding the unique requirements of the Indian market and providing best practices for utilising CATIA effectively. While CATIA’s core solution remains standardised to serve the global automotive sector, this approach is valuable for Indian OEMs as well. It enables them not only to adopt practices suited to the local market but also to elevate their capabilities to meet international standards,” Sappin explained.
“This is especially important as India’s automotive industry grows as a global exporter, with a strong focus on achieving the same level of maturity and excellence observed in leading international OEMs. Through tailored projects and dedicated local teams, we ensure that our Indian clients benefit from both regional insight and the globally aligned CATIA solution,” he pointed out.
Evolving with the industry
As autonomous driving and electrification emerge as the major shifts, not only in terms of sustainable development goals, but also in the demands on vehicle engineering, there is growing need for a holistic, systems-oriented approach driven by electronics and software integration.
This shift is transforming engineering, requiring new methodologies to maintain quality, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction, while also accelerating time-to-market by up to a year to stay competitive with manufacturers from Europe, the US, and China. As per Sappin, “For OEMs and suppliers to remain competitive, adapting development processes is essential, ensuring they meet the rapid pace and complexity of modern automotive innovation. AI and ML too are emerging as pivotal technologies enabling us to enhance our clients’ needs, particularly in accelerating development timelines.”
“To leverage AI effectively, we focus on utilising structured engineering data generated by our clients, transforming it into organised information that integrates with CATIA. We envision engineers interacting with CATIA using natural language, allowing them to request designs and receive solutions based on best practices. Additionally, AI will expand design possibilities, enabling engineers to explore thousands of configurations instead of just a handful, thanks to multi-disciplinary optimisation that combines modeling and simulation,” he said.
“Finally, predictive analytics will allow us to analyse real-time data from vehicle usage to create a feedback loop for continuous improvement. We are actively advancing these initiatives with a dedicated team and collaborating with several automotive manufacturers to implement these innovative solutions,” Sappin signed off.