Prime Highlights:
- Qualcomm and BMW have launched the Snapdragon Ride Pilot Automated Driving System, which will debut on the BMW iX3.
- Qualcomm expects a “domino effect” as other automakers adopt the technology once it is proven on the road.
Key Facts:
- The BMW iX3 with Snapdragon Ride Pilot will launch in 60 countries initially, expanding to 100 countries by 2026.
- Qualcomm’s automotive division earned nearly $1 billion in the June quarter, marking a 21% increase compared to last year.
Key Background:
Qualcomm has entered the automotive market with a new automated driving system developed with German carmaker BMW. Called the Snapdragon Ride Pilot, the system will first appear in BMW’s upcoming iX3 model. It offers driver-assist features like hands-free driving on certain roads and automatic lane changes. While not a fully driverless system, it represents a significant advancement in autonomous vehicle technology.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said that working with BMW is only the start. He expects a “domino effect” as other automakers adopt the technology once it proves its capabilities on the road. The BMW iX3 with Snapdragon Ride Pilot will first be introduced in 60 countries, with plans to expand to 100 countries by 2026.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said the company is already in talks with other carmakers, though no new partnerships have been confirmed yet. He believes the success of the BMW deal will encourage more automakers to adopt the system.
This launch is part of Qualcomm’s push to grow beyond its smartphone chip business. Although phone chips bring in most of Qualcomm’s revenue, the company is also focusing on PCs, cloud services, and car technology. Qualcomm’s car business earned almost $1 billion in the June quarter, a 21% increase compared to the previous year. Qualcomm has set a long-term target of boosting automotive revenue to $8 billion by fiscal 2029.
Besides self-driving features, Qualcomm’s chips also support car functions like entertainment systems and voice assistants. Earlier this week, the company announced a collaboration with Google Cloud to enable automakers to build customized voice-powered assistants for vehicles.
Industry analysts believe this positions Qualcomm as a fully integrated solution provider for carmakers, offering hardware and software under one roof. European carmakers are facing more competition from Chinese companies in self-driving technology, and Qualcomm’s system could give them an advantage.
By partnering first with BMW, Qualcomm hopes its automotive business will become one of the company’s main areas of growth in the coming years.
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