The German automaker Volkswagen will use socs from the American chip designer Qualcomm, a German newspaper reports based on sources around the company. The contract would run from 2026 to 2031. It concerns socs that should make autonomous driving possible.
With the move, Qualcomm would now have autonomous driving SOCs agreements with six automakers, writes Handelsblatt. For the infotainment system, there are more manufacturers that have concluded agreements. The move would come as a surprise, because Volkswagen has been working with Mobileye for driver assistance systems for some time.
For the infotainment system from 2026, Volkswagen is still in negotiations with Qualcomm, Nvidia and Intel. The intention is that from that year the cars will have their own VW.os as software. Much about this is still unclear.
Qualcomm now has more deals to supply chips for infotainment systems, while more carmakers are turning to Nvidia for the chips for autonomous driving, a Handelsblatt inventory shows.
| Automakers and chip designers collaborations | Autonomous driving | Infotainment systems |
| Qualcomm | BMW Ferrari General Motors Great Wall Motor Renault Volkswagen |
BYD General Motors Honda Nioz Opel Peugeot Renault Smart/Yellow Stellantis Volvo/Polestar xpeng |
| Nvidia | Audi Aurora BYD cruise JLR Lucid Mercedes Nioz Toyota Vinfast Volvo/Polestar xpeng Zoox |
Audi Mercedes Kia/Hyundai |