Qualcomm, BMW, MINI & More
BMW Group and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. today announced the companies’ have extended their technology collaboration beyond driver assistance and automated driving technologies, bringing the latest Snapdragon® Digital Chassis™ Solution advancements to power BMW Group’s new vehicles for safer, smarter and sophisticated experiences to drivers and passengers. Leveraging both companies’ expertise in innovation, BMW is working with Qualcomm Technologies as the automaker’s systems solutions provider, to utilize the latest generation of the Snapdragon® Cockpit Platform to power BMW Group’s new in-vehicle experiences, as well as the Snapdragon® Auto Connectivity Platforms for 5G connectivity to bring ultra-fast and seamless connectivity to vehicles with new BMW iDrive generation “QuickSelect” and new Operating Systems 8.5 and 9.
Taking the driver-vehicle relationship to the next level, new BMW vehicles and vehicles of MINI’s New Family, are designed to utilize next-generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platforms to power their operating systems, the automaker’s outstanding interface for intelligent yet simple control, communications, and infotainment. Snapdragon Cockpit Platforms are not only engineered to deliver high-definition graphics to iDrive’s touch and voice-controlled display unit but to also deliver a fully immersive in-cabin experience, enabling premium audio and crystal-clear voice communications throughout the vehicle’s cabin. Working with the Snapdragon Cockpit Platforms, iDrive is designed to bring a new level of digital intelligence for convenience and safety, helping to enhance the BMW Intelligent Personal Safety Assistant’s capabilities with highly intuitive artificial intelligence (AI) features. These include in-car virtual assistance, natural language interactions between the vehicle and driver, in-cabin monitoring for contextual safety, and precise positioning for safer and smarter navigation.
The latest BMW vehicles also feature the Snapdragon® Auto 5G Modem-RF for ultra-fast connectivity, quick network response times, and the reliability needed to support both safety features and always-connected experiences inside and outside of vehicles.
As a part of the companies’ technology collaboration, BMW Group and Qualcomm Technologies are currently co-developing a comprehensive, open and scalable ADAS system ranging from New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), Level 2 Advanced Driving Assistance Systems to Level 3 High Automated Driving functionalities to expand the accessibility of safer self-driving technologies to the global automotive ecosystem. These will be based on the Snapdragon Ride™ Platform with an integrated Ride Vision software stack and the first L2+ systems are expected to be available beginning in 2025.
Qualcomm & JLR for 5G
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and JLR announced today that the companies will work together to bring 5G capabilities to select next-generation JLR vehicles across its brands Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar. As a part of JLR’s efforts in building a sustainability-rich vision of modern luxury by design, the ongoing technology collaboration between Qualcomm Technologies and JLR aims to support advanced and integrated digital cockpit and infotainment systems to JLR’s new vehicles. With the Snapdragon® Auto 5G Modem-RF from Qualcomm Technologies, JLR is equipped to create modern luxury in-vehicle experiences powered by efficient and seamless connectivity. Drivers and passengers will benefit from direct, low latency connectivity outside of the car, with vehicles connecting to each other and their surroundings for safer driving experiences, generating real-time data that can inform new connected-car services, and higher levels of autonomy. This technology collaboration builds on the longstanding relationship between Qualcomm Technologies and JLR, who both aim to provide the latest capabilities to future cars with Snapdragon Automotive platforms.
The Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF is a key component of the Snapdragon Digital Chassis™ technology suite. With ultra-high speeds and ultra-low latency, the platform is designed to power immersive in-vehicle and always-connected driving experiences. By leveraging the Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF system’s positioning, Wi-Fi technologies, and direct vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-roadside infrastructure (V2I) communications, JLR vehicles will also offer connected services for a highly personalized and upgradable in-vehicle experience, as well as advanced safety and mobility benefitting applications.
Digital Luxury for Mercedes-Benz
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. announced the company’s work with Mercedes-Benz AG to continue delivering the digital luxury experience the automaker is widely known for. As a part of the companies’ continued technology collaboration, Snapdragon® Digital Chassis™ Solutions are designed to help bring the latest in-vehicle technology and features to the new 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan. With the next generation Snapdragon® Cockpit and Snapdragon® Auto Connectivity Platforms, Qualcomm Technologies delivers immersive, interactive and intelligent in-vehicle experiences complete with 5G connectivity and cloud-connected digital services for all occupants. Vehicles featuring the Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions are expected to be available in the US at the beginning of 2024.
Working with Bosch as the system integrator and Tier-1 supplier, the latest generation of Snapdragon Cockpit Platforms help power the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class User Experience (MBUX) multimedia system running on the new MBUX Superscreen, helping to deliver enhanced graphics, rich multimedia support. The Snapdragon Cockpit Platforms also help power the MBUX’s high-resolution widescreen unit with touchscreen operation, navigational display and augmented reality technology, providing convenience and more enjoyment for occupants. The Snapdragon Cockpit Platform’s pre-integrated support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth® 5.2, feature premium in-vehicle wireless connectivity, including hotspot and high-speed gaming.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedans are expected to utilize Qualcomm Technologies’ latest Snapdragon Automotive Connectivity Platforms for always on, and always connected in-vehicle experiences, providing the high bandwidth pipeline needed for seamless multi-media streaming, over-the-air (OTA) updates, and multi-gigabit upload and download capabilities.
Qualcomm & AWS for Autos
At IAA Mobility, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company, announced their commitment to long-term co-innovation efforts on behalf of the automotive industry. Recognizing the rapid expansion of software-defined features and functions, exponential growth of data to gain insights from, and end customers’ desires to bring new functionality to market faster, AWS and Qualcomm Technologies will combine their industry expertise to provide comprehensive development infrastructure and tools to accelerate autonomous driving and software-defined vehicle (SDV) transformation.
To help democratize vehicle software development for the industry, AWS and Qualcomm Technologies are making strides to help enable automakers to experiment and integrate cloud technologies into their development processes. For instance, with Qualcomm Technologies’ software stack, which powers a vehicle’s computer vision system for advanced safety functions like automatic braking and lane assist, developers can use the benefits of the cloud to simulate, test, validate, and verify their new features and functions before moving to more traditional testing on hardware. This helps expedite the development process and aids software engineers in arriving at a viable product faster than before.
Premium luxury automakers, including the BMW Group, have worked with Qualcomm Technologies to co-develop next-generation automated driving systems based on the open, scalable and modular Snapdragon Ride Platform, which features an integrated Ride Vision software stack to enable 360-degree perception for the vehicle. Together with AWS and Qualcomm Technologies, the BMW Group’s engineers can now leverage the benefits of leading hardware, vision software, and cloud capabilities in a cohesive, integrated, end-to-end automated driving development platform.
With more than 20 years of automotive industry experience, Qualcomm Technologies is well-positioned to provide advanced solutions that support the ongoing transformation of the automotive industry, resulting in connected vehicles, autonomous driving and electrification. AWS brings its long-standing experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data processing and analysis, and high-performance computing. Combined, the two companies expect to experiment and integrate new insights into future automotive solutions that will change how vehicles are designed, marketed, and driven on the road.