Stellantis will use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis to energy the automaker’s upcoming Mind and SmartCockpit expertise platforms, the 2 firms mentioned.
The collaboration will embrace automobiles throughout of Stellantis’ 14 manufacturers, beginning with Maserati in 2024, Stellantis software program chief Yves Bonnefont mentioned in a media briefing forward of the announcement Thursday.
By 2026, the applied sciences will probably be built-in throughout the group’s manufacturers, he mentioned.
“We’re speaking about hundreds of thousands of automobiles,” Bonnefont added.
The STLA Mind platform is the principle electrical/digital and software program structure for future Stellantis automobiles. It’s built-in into the cloud to facilitate over-the-air updates. The SmartCockpit platform is constructed on prime of the Mind, and makes use of AI-based purposes to ship infotainment options and providers, together with in-vehicle funds and voice instructions. It’s being designed and engineered along with Amazon and Foxconn.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis is a set of open and scalable cloud-connected platforms, masking 4 domains: Automobile to Cloud, Cockpit, Journey (driver help) and Connectivity.
The collaboration with Stellantis will embrace the Cockpit and Connectivity platforms, the businesses mentioned, specifically integrating 5G features. The Cockpit toolset will energy in-car communication and infotainment programs, together with high-definition graphics, in STLA SmartCockpit.
STLA Mind options may even be enhanced by Digital Chassis parts, together with over-the-air updates and enhancements, together with horsepower updates, extra drive modes, and diagnostics and restore.
Bonnefont mentioned Qualcomm expertise would assist Stellantis attain its objective of 20 billion euros in revenues from software-driven applied sciences — with a gross margin of 40 p.c — within the group’s Dare Ahead 2030 plan, introduced on March 1. The group may have 34 million related automobiles, Stellantis has mentioned.
That income consists of providers and subscriptions, together with to homeowners of used vehicles; information and fleet providers; improved car pricing and resale; and conquests, service retention and cross-selling.
“This can be a complete new world of potentialities for vehicles,” Bonnefont mentioned. “That is aligned with our clients’ expectations” comparable to smartphones that replace mechanically.
Stellantis has used sure Qualcomm applied sciences previously, however this collaboration represents a long-term enlargement of the portfolio, mentioned Enrico Salvatori, the top of Qualcomm Europe.
Neither Salvatori nor Bonnefont offered any monetary particulars of the settlement, together with whether or not the businesses would share revenues from upgrades or providers.
Qualcomm, primarily based in San Diego, California, supplies its expertise to dozens of automakers, and has main collaborations with BMW, Hyundai Group, Volvo Vehicles, Renault and Honda, amongst others.
Bonnefont mentioned working with Qualcomm would assist stabilize the provision of semiconductors, which have been a significant sourcing headache for automakers previously 18 months.
“This can be a technique to reinforce our provide chain at a time when semiconductor provide is troublesome,” he mentioned. “We’ll get pleasure from a really particular service from Qualcomm to assist us in our sourcing.”
For Qualcomm’s half, the collaboration with Stellantis is a part of a push to work immediately with automakers moderately than by Tier 1 suppliers, Salvatori mentioned. “Tier 1s nonetheless have a job to play, however now there’s a direct channel established with the automakers,” he mentioned.
Qualcomm’s platforms are open and scalable, he mentioned, with the {hardware} and primary software program obtainable to automakers, who can add worth with their very own software program, Salvatori mentioned.
“This allows automakers to focus their vitality and R&D cash on a software program ecosystem that’s creating the differentiation,” he mentioned.