The Qualcomm Snapdragon Digital Chassis, a platform for automotive technology that combines entertainment, customization, and upgradability into a single product, will be used in Sony Honda Mobility’s Afeela electric vehicle when it goes on sale.
Automakers must find the right technology partner to simplify a vehicle’s structure and open up fresh revenue opportunities through downloadable improvements and passenger entertainment.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon Digital Chassis comprises four automotive systems: the Snapdragon Ride Platform, which provides driver assistance technologies and autonomous driving abilities, the Snapdragon Car-to-Cloud, which enables over-the-air software updates; and the Snapdragon Auto Connectivity, which involves connected systems like 5G and vehicle-to-vehicle technologies.
There is a tremendous amount of opportunity to reinvent the car, And a tremendous amount of that reinvention is happening because the car is becoming a truly digital product, that may present themselves over the lifetime of a vehicle and that these require you to really think about the platform very differently
Nakul Duggal, Vice President and General Manager of Qualcomm stated on company’s innovation
Qualcomm Snapdragon Digital Chassis features
Manufacturers can benefit from the quicker development of connected systems with the Qualcomm Snapdragon Digital Chassis.
According to Duggal, technology, software, and electrical architecture are some of “the key differentiators” that car manufacturers will have to consider in the future in which how a car drives will no longer differentiate it from its competitors.
If you think about the way the car architecture is being designed going forward, you have centralization of compute capabilities, larger processors in the car, built-in connectivity, safety features built-in, All of these require the car architecture to shift, and you need somebody who actually understands what it means to be able to build a platform
We have been working with every automaker for the past dozen years or so. We are clearly seeing trends that are common across what everybody needs. We include that in our platform, we provide a tremendous amount of software capability, integration capability — and that allows automakers to move faster
Nakul Duggal, Vice President and General Manager of Qualcomm stated on company’s innovation
Sony Honda Mobility, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, Cadillac, and Stellantis are some of the companies that have purchased the Qualcomm Digital Chassis.
As per reports that the company also claims that BMW, Hyundai Motor Group, Nio, and Volvo have supported the new platform. According to Wired, when automotive manufacturers are still having trouble finding sufficient supplies of semiconductors, these manufacturers undoubtedly hope to profit from the ostensible inherent simplicity made available by the Digital Chassis.
In a press release from the previous year, Duggal stated, “At Qualcomm Technologies, we understand that automakers need unique, comprehensive, and connected solutions to meet dynamic demands and power 21st-century vehicles,
By expanding our in-vehicle connectivity offerings to provide a transformative, scalable, extensive suite of solutions through the Snapdragon Digital Chassis, we are confident the automotive industry will be able to deliver the unmatched next-generation driving experiences customers deserve,
In the past, you would have a dozen different ECUs that were responsible for everything from displays to parking, to driver monitoring, to the audio and speakers, All of that is getting integrated into a common platform. We are now seeing next-generation architectures get reduced down to less than five main subsystems — cockpit for the in-car experience; telematics for in-car and cloud connectivity; driver assistance and automated driving systems; in-car networking; and zonal controllers being the main ones
Nakul Duggal, Vice President and General Manager of Qualcomm stated on company’s innovation
Qualcomm’s innovative practices
The ability for automakers to install or unlock premium features for an additional fee paves the way for new revenue streams, and while all of this electronic wizardry is impressive, it also allows for new revenue streams for carmakers.
Qualcomm has expressed the hope that introducing its Digital Chassis will “inspire new business models for automakers,” which go beyond the traditional practices of simply selling and maintaining automobiles. Soon, Mercedes will require customers to pay $1,200 to unlock additional performance locked behind a paywall programmed into the computer code of its electric vehicles.
By purchasing the Performance Pack software update, the most recent iteration of the Polestar 2 can increase its power. The previous year, BMW invited a barrage of criticism when it asked customers of specific models to pay an additional fee to access the heated seats.
Car manufacturers that have yet to wholly embrace innovative infotainment, driver assistance, and connectivity systems may soon find that locating a suitable technology partner is paramount.
According to Wired, Lei Zhou, a partner at Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting, says it is “highly likely” that automakers that go it alone and develop their technology will risk falling behind their competitors. The difficulties that Volkswagen has had with the software for its ID.
Partnerships inside the automotive industry
Branded cars are well documented, and it is possible that these difficulties played a significant role in Volkswagen Group’s decision to remove Herbert Diess from his position as CEO.
If conventional OEMs develop connected technologies with their current capabilities, they may find themselves left behind by emerging EV makers with IT backgrounds or OEMs that have partnered with powerful tech partners; significant value can be generated by collaboration with a variety of players, including technology and business fields
Lei Zhou, a partner at Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting stated on technologies in Auto industry
Whoever makes the best deal with the most powerful ally will be in the best position to succeed in a rapidly evolving car industry. This industry is now more dependent than ever on intelligent, connected technology; and entertainment if autonomous driving is ever a reality.
Whoever secures the best position to succeed will have the best chance. According to Wired, “Those who go it alone, or pick their partners poorly, run the risk of being left behind.”
See Also
- Xiaomi CEO spotted testing first EV offering in China
- Key to driverless vehicles is an industrial setting and more information
- Sony Honda Mobility unveiled EV brand Afeela
- Jidu Automotive officially releases fully autonomous electric car in China
- Volkswagen focuses on the development of autonomous driving
