The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has appointed Manoj Desai as its Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), marking a leadership development at a time when cybersecurity is becoming increasingly significant across automotive research, engineering and mobility technology.
The appointment comes as the automotive industry undergoes a major technological shift, driven by connected vehicles, software-defined architectures, advanced electronics and data-enabled mobility solutions. As these technologies become more integrated, information security and cyber risk management are gaining importance across the automotive value chain.
Cybersecurity Takes Centre Stage in Automotive Technology
The growing digitalisation of vehicles is changing the industry’s approach to engineering, product development and technology management. Modern vehicles increasingly rely on electronic control units, software-based functions, connected services and systems that exchange data with external networks.
While these developments enable new capabilities, they also introduce cybersecurity considerations involving data protection, system integrity, software vulnerabilities and the security of connected infrastructure. As a result, cybersecurity is no longer limited to traditional IT environments; it is becoming an important consideration in the development and deployment of automotive technologies.
For automotive research and development organisations, maintaining secure digital systems and addressing emerging cyber risks are increasingly relevant to technology development, testing and operational resilience.
ARAI’s Role in India’s Automotive Technology Ecosystem
Based in Pune, the Automotive Research Association of India is a prominent automotive research and development organisation that supports the Indian automotive industry through testing, certification, standardisation, research and technology development.
As the automotive sector evolves, cybersecurity is becoming increasingly relevant to the technical and regulatory frameworks governing modern vehicles. India’s automotive cybersecurity framework includes AIS-189, which addresses automotive cybersecurity and Cyber Security Management Systems, and AIS-190, which covers Software Update Management Systems.
These frameworks reflect the growing importance of managing cyber risks and securing software-related processes throughout the vehicle lifecycle.
Connected Vehicles and Software-Defined Mobility
The transition towards connected vehicles and software-defined vehicles is creating new opportunities for innovation across the mobility ecosystem. Software is playing an expanding role in vehicle functionality, performance, connectivity and the delivery of digital services.
This shift also increases the importance of secure software development, controlled software updates, data governance and effective cybersecurity practices. As vehicle systems become more interconnected, cyber resilience is increasingly relevant to manufacturers, technology providers, research institutions and the wider automotive supply chain.
The integration of cybersecurity considerations into automotive technology development is therefore an important part of supporting reliable and secure mobility solutions.
The Growing Importance of Information Security Leadership
Manoj Desai’s appointment as CISO places information security leadership in focus within an automotive research and technology environment. As organisations navigate digital transformation, information security leadership is relevant to managing information assets, addressing cyber risks and supporting organisational resilience.
The automotive industry’s continued adoption of connected technologies and software-driven systems is expected to keep cybersecurity high on the agenda for companies and institutions working across vehicle engineering, technology development and mobility innovation.
As India’s automotive ecosystem continues to advance, the relationship between cybersecurity, software engineering and vehicle technology will remain an important area of industry attention.
