The Incredible World of Functional Safety - Alexander Much EP12

🔧 THE SAFETY SOFTWARE DECODED

In this illuminating episode of "Under the Hood: Automotive Storytelling" from The Storytelling Tribe, we sit down with Alexander Much, former Director of Functional Safety, Cybersecurity and Open Source at Elektrobit and seasoned automotive software expert with 22 years of industry experience, to explore the critical intersection of software complexity and functional safety in modern vehicles.

🎯 KEY INSIGHTS

Silicon Valley vs. Detroit: The Integration Challenge

Alexander reveals how automotive companies evolved from hardware-focused manufacturers to software-dependent organizations, and why most OEMs still lack clear business models for post-sale software maintenance.

The Mathematics of Automotive Safety Cases

Discover how modern cars require 50-100 individual safety cases per vehicle, creating unprecedented regulatory complexity.

The Future of Software-Defined Safety

Learn why functional safety is moving toward increased government regulation if the industry fails to maintain societal acceptance, especially as autonomous systems enter the market.

💡 PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS

• Embrace Societal Context: Understand that functional safety definitions vary by region and time period – what's acceptable changes with societal norms
• Invest in Software Quality: Recognize that half of software costs occur after the car hits the road, requiring new business models for ongoing maintenance
• Focus on Function Over Technology: Prioritize what the software does for users rather than technical specifications when communicating value
• Enable Through Education: Never demand compliance without enabling engineers to understand complex concepts standards and safety protocols

🌟 ABOUT YOUR GUIDE

Alexander Much brings 22 years of automotive software experience from working student to Director level at Elektrobit. He's been instrumental in AUTOSAR's early implementation, served as a principal automotive SPICE assessor and functional safety auditor, and led the groundwork for the first automotive HPC project now on roads. 

Ready to discover the stories behind the steering wheel?

#UnderTheHood #AutomotiveStorytelling #FunctionalSafety #AutomotiveSoftware #ISO26262

"Under the Hood: Automotive Storytelling" – Where technology meets narrative, and mobility's future is told through visionary voices.

"Under the Hood: Automotive Storytelling" uncovers the human narratives driving innovation in an industry that impacts lives worldwide. Hosted by Stéphane Lagresle, this podcast explores how the power of storytelling ultimately connects technology to humans.