Suma Linganagoudar joins Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) after nearly 15 years at Bosch Global Software Technologies, bringing experience across automotive engineering, strategy and technology transformation.
Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India has appointed Suma Linganagoudar as Vice President and Head of Electrical/Electronic (E/E), Exteriors, Safety and Software Engineering. The appointment adds experienced engineering leadership to the organisation’s work across vehicle systems, software development and next-generation automotive technologies.
Linganagoudar announced her move to Mercedes-Benz on LinkedIn, describing the opportunity as an opportunity to work on interconnected systems where technology, capable teams and the wider ecosystem come together to solve complex challenges.
From Automotive Engineering to Technology Leadership
Linganagoudar joins MBRDI after nearly 15 years at Bosch Global Software Technologies, where her experience spanned braking, powertrain, sensors and automated driving.
In her most recent responsibilities at Bosch, she led Strategy and Transformation and also served as Chief of Staff. These roles gave her exposure to technology, business operations and organisational priorities, extending beyond individual engineering domains.
Her professional background reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of automotive development, where electronics, software and vehicle systems must work together to deliver safety, reliability and new mobility capabilities.
Engineering at the Intersection of Hardware and Software
Linganagoudar’s new portfolio covers electrical and electronic systems, exteriors, safety and software engineering—areas that are becoming increasingly connected as vehicles evolve.
Modern vehicles depend on coordinated electronic architectures, sophisticated software and integrated safety systems. Engineering these elements requires collaboration across disciplines, from sensors and control systems to software development and vehicle-level integration.
Her appointment comes as automotive development continues to place greater emphasis on software-defined capabilities, connected technologies, advanced safety features and electric mobility. These developments make systems-level engineering and cross-functional collaboration increasingly important to vehicle development.
MBRDI’s Role in Global Automotive Development
Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India is the Mercedes-Benz Group’s largest research and development centre outside Germany. With operations in Bengaluru and Pune, the organisation contributes to global automotive engineering and digital development across areas including connected, autonomous and electric mobility.
Its engineering work connects India’s technology talent with the broader development requirements of Mercedes-Benz vehicles and mobility systems. Leadership across software, electronics and safety engineering therefore forms part of a wider effort to develop increasingly integrated automotive technologies.
Linganagoudar’s role places her within this engineering ecosystem, with responsibility spanning several disciplines that influence how future vehicle systems are designed and developed.
Looking Ahead
Reflecting on her appointment, Linganagoudar highlighted the importance of bringing technology, people and the wider ecosystem together to address complex challenges at scale. She also expressed enthusiasm about learning from colleagues and contributing to the automotive industry’s ongoing transformation.
Her move from Bosch Global Software Technologies to Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India marks a new chapter in a career spanning automotive engineering, technology leadership and transformation.
As automotive platforms become more software-intensive and electronically integrated, leadership across these engineering domains will remain important to the development of future mobility technologies.
