Description: The Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) is creating a new infrastructure layer where connectivity is native, and capable of using the network's intelligence. Location verification, quality-of-service guarantees, and real-time identity signals have historically been locked inside the carrier. With standardized advanced network APIs and open SDV platforms like Android Automotive OS SDV, these capabilities are becoming accessible to enterprise developers for the first time. This session presents a technical vision for the "Network-Aware Vehicle." The goal is to evoke thought beyond a vehicle simply being connected to how it operates in the network. Our specific thought leadership will focus on two dimensions. The first is digital trust: a progression from phone-layer identity (Silent Auth, SIM Swap detection) to vehicle-layer assurance (Location Verification, continuous trust for in-vehicle commerce and remote access). The second is experience quality: using Quality on Demand (QoD) APIs to guarantee bandwidth for high-value in-vehicle services from lossless audio and 4K media streaming to reliable OTA updates and real-time V2X data exchange. Together, these capabilities reframe connectivity from a cost center into a programmable platform that OEMs can use to differentiate, monetize, and protect. The session will close with an open discussion on where COVESA's middleware standards work can accelerate the path from standard API availability to production OEM adoption.Type: Community Engagement/Outreach/Validation