Qualcomm and BMW Launch Snapdragon Ride Pilot on New iX3 - Plans to License Driver-Assist Tech Widely
Tech giants Qualcomm and BMW just dropped a bombshell—the Snapdragon Ride Pilot system is now live on the brand-new iX3.
Driving the Future
This isn't just another driver-assist feature—it's a full-scale assault on autonomous mediocrity. The system leverages Qualcomm's chipset supremacy to deliver razor-sharp processing without draining the battery.
Licensing Gold Rush
BMW and Qualcomm aren't keeping this tech to themselves. They're planning to license it far and wide—because why build moats when you can sell shovels? Automakers worldwide are already lining up, wallets open.
Finance Jab
Wall Street analysts are probably still trying to figure out if this qualifies as 'AI' so they can slap a 500% premium on the stock. Meanwhile, the tech actually works.
Bottom line: This moves the needle—not just for luxury EVs, but for the entire automotive ecosystem. The race to autonomy just hit hyperspeed.
The approach fits a broader shift at Qualcomm
The company still makes most of its money from chips installed on smartphones from vendors including Xiaomi and Samsung. But it is pushing into different industries, including PC processors, semiconductors for data centers, and the automotive industry.
The auto unit is a central bet. It generated almost $1 billion by the June quarter while growing 21% since the previous year. Qualcomm has said it expects revenue from the automotive industry to reach $8 billion in 2029. To hit that target, the company is developing technology for many parts of the car.
Its chips could power systems like in-car entertainment and others. On Monday, Qualcomm announced that it partnered with Google Cloud to allow automakers to develop digital assistants of their own.
Analysts say the strategy is to offer a complete stack. “[Qualcomm] are building a whole ecosystem led by software,” said Murtuza Ali, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research. “The main thing is they are a fully integrated solution provider for autonomy, which is what they were lacking.”
Traditional carmakers, especially in Europe, are often seen as behind on software-driven features such as autonomous driving when compared with rivals from China. That gap matters as more models add advanced driver assistance and as brands try to keep customers loyal.
The electric-vehicle market in the US is also shifting
Tesla’s shares have dropped to their 8-year lows in August as buyers chose EVs from a growing set of competitors over the aging lineup sold by CEO Elon Musk’s company, based on information shared with Reuters.
The slide comes as rivals step up incentives during a difficult stretch for the EV industry. According to analysts, the sales of electric vehicles in the US WOULD continue at an increased pace in September and drop later after the expiration of federal tax credits.
Tesla once controlled over 80% of the EV industry in the US. In August, it accounted for 38% of total EV sales, according to early Cox data. It was the first time the company fell below its 40% mark since October 2027. At that time, the company had ramped up the Model 3 production, the first mass-produced car for the market. Even in Europe, BMW and Mercedes are challenging Tesla’s market share, as reported earlier by Cryptopolitan.
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