Today, a car is no longer just a vehicle with wheels, a steering wheel, and a chassis. It has evolved into a powerful “computer” or a network of computers, integrating a wide range of functions and features to deliver a unique passenger experience.

For Vasily Linkov, vice president and general manager of Luxoft’s Asia-Pacific automotive division, his role is to develop, design, and maintain that very experience. In Shanghai, where the automotive industry is moving at full speed, he and his team have found the perfect track to push the boundaries of innovation.

Born in Kazakhstan, Linkov began his career in small companies as a software engineer, where he honed essential skills in contract negotiation, employee training, and client communication. His later experience at Motorola further developed his management expertise and strengthened his ability to collaborate with colleagues across different countries.

In 2012, he joined Luxoft, drawn by the appeal of the auto industry. From his perspective, cars are indispensable to everyone, and high-tech areas like autonomous driving and the internet of vehicles were already advancing rapidly. By that time, the automotive sector had already begun its intelligent transformation.

Over time, his team’s work expanded beyond autonomous driving to a broader product portfolio, such as in-car entertainment systems, human-machine interfaces, internet-connected vehicles capable of communicating with other cars and road infrastructure, and system testing and verification.

In 2021, Luxoft set its sights on the Asian automotive market, with China, the largest and fastest-growing market in the region, becoming the strategic focus. In 2023, Linkov and his family moved to Shanghai, beginning a new chapter in both work and life.

Shanghai is a critically important city for the automotive industry, both in China and globally, and this was a key reason Linkov chose to base himself here. What excites him even more is the team he works with, focused, experienced, and deeply knowledgeable, composed of both Chinese talent and international professionals like himself.

Today, he has built a stable and senior team in China and established partnerships with most global equipment manufacturers, driving the company’s steady growth. An even more promising future awaits as the team extends its reach from Shanghai to markets across Asia.