Mercedes-Benz to Get Qualcomm Snapdragon Digital Chassis
Giancarlo Perlas September 24, 2022
Renowned chipmaker Qualcomm Technologies Inc. is now expanding its reach from being a major presence in mobile computing devices to automobiles. Recently, it was revealed that Mercedes-Benz is now joining other automakers like BMW, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Renault, Volvo, and Stellantis in adopting the company’s new Snapdragon platform for vehicles.
According to a report from Automotive News, Mercedes is looking to integrate the new Qualcomm Snapdragon automobile platform in powering its vehicles’ digital cockpits and telematics system. Through the partnership, the California-based tech giant will provide new AI and computing solutions to the German automaker’s products. It will also include a series of performance- and safety-related upgrades to the luxury brand’s next generation of vehicles.
Based on Qualcomm’s description, the new Snapdragon Digital Chassis offers a full suite of scalable, cloud-connected automotive platforms for telematics and connectivity, computing, and driving assistance systems and autonomy. With new technological innovations and on-demand digital services, it enables automakers to create intelligent and interconnected experiences that are safer, highly customizable, and immersive. In particular, the platform opens up vehicles to enhanced connectivity brought about by 5G, C-V2X (Cellular vehicle-to-everything), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and precise positioning service (PPS) technologies.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon stated that the new partnership gives Mercedes access to their automotive design-win pipeline worth $30 billion. In addition, it benefits from the tech company’s other partnership with open-source provider Red Hat which utilizes Linux-based operating systems (OS) for next-generation vehicles. The OS is designed to deliver higher levels of cybersecurity protection for vehicles using the Snapdragon Digital Chassis as well.
