In-Vehicle Storage Emerges as a Core Design Priority for OEMs in 2026: SanDisk

Cars in India are evolving from primarily mechanical machines into connected, data-intensive computing platforms. With features such as ADAS, connected services, OTA updates and AI-driven functions moving into the mass market, storage is no longer an add-on but a foundational element of vehicle architecture.

According to Prasad Sandireddy, Vice President, Product Development Engineering at SanDisk, edge storage is becoming essential as nearly 37% of new passenger vehicles sold in India already feature embedded connectivity. Patchy network coverage across highways and remote regions makes onboard storage critical for ensuring system reliability and real-time decision-making.

Another key shift is the growing adoption of NVMe® storage, which is moving beyond premium vehicles. As modern cars continuously process data from cameras, radar, LiDAR and V2X systems, low-latency NVMe® storage is improving ADAS responsiveness and AI performance. Industry experts expect NVMe® to become standard in mid- to high-segment vehicles.

The rapid rise of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) is further driving storage demand. India’s SDV market is projected to grow from USD 2.69 billion in 2025 to over USD 9 billion by 2033, with future vehicles expected to require anywhere from 2TB to 19TB of onboard storage by 2030.

To balance performance and cost, OEMs are adopting tiered storage architectures, combining high-speed NVMe® for critical workloads with cost-efficient flash storage for long-term data. Storage is also becoming part of the automotive compute stack, enabling faster processing and better system efficiency. 

Industry estimates suggest future vehicles could require between 2TB and 19TB of onboard storage by 2030, depending on autonomy levels and feature complexity. As vehicles become increasingly software-driven, OEMs that prioritise scalable and intelligent storage foundations will be better positioned to deliver connected, future-ready platforms at scale.