VW backs Qualcomm for driverless cars
In a blow to Nvidia, Volkswagen’s software subsidiary Cariad will use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Ride Platform’s system-on-chips (SoCs) for unified scalable software platform for its driverless cars.
The deal is the first of its kind for Cariad and key for the Volkswagen Group to include perfectly matched hardware in its software platform from the middle of the decade.
The deal will allow VW to define which high-performance computer chips are used for its platform and match them with its own software requirements as part of its ‘New Auto’ strategy for autonomous and sustainable mobility. Going forward, the VW Group will span everything from manufacturing and selling vehicles, to producing battery cells and offering energy services, to providing mobility solutions and developing and continuously updating software.
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“The connected and automated car of the future is a high-performance computer on wheels. Behind it lies enormously complex computing power,” said Dirk Hilgenberg, CEO of Cariad. “With our automated driving solutions, we are striving to let customers take their hands off the steering wheel in the future. Our software and Qualcomm Technologies’ high-performance SoCs are the perfect match to bring this new automotive experience to customers around the world.”
“We look forward to supporting Cariad and its suppliers to deliver scalable and secure automated driving functions for Volkswagen Group vehicles through their selection of our open and programmable Snapdragon Ride Platforms,” said Nakul Duggal, senior vice president & GM, automotive, Qualcomm Technologies. “As the amount of innovation and complexities increase, strong collaborations such as ours with CARIAD are a necessity to not only address aggressive time-to-market goals, but to deliver safe and reliable automated driving experiences for all.”
“We are proud to be supporting CARIAD with Snapdragon Ride Platforms to support NCAP, active safety, to Level 4, self-driving, functionality, across the Volkswagen Group vehicles launching from the middle of the decade,” said Enrico Salvatori, SVP & President Qualcomm Europe/MEA, Qualcomm Technologies.
“Finding the best balance between scalability, costs and performance was one of our biggest challenges for the design of our new High Performance Compute platform”, said Klaus Hofmockel, Senior Vice President Hardware Development at Cariad. “Qualcomm Technologies’ fully scalable SoC lineup delivers very efficient compute performance in combination with energy efficiency and also cost-effectiveness.”
