The car company Volkswagen has committed itself to the US chip company Qualcomm in the development of automated driving. VW will use Qualcomm’s “System on Chip” (SoC), which was specially developed for automated driving, across all brands worldwide from 2026, reports the newspaper “Handelsblatt”, citing group circles. The deal, which runs until 2031, will cost Volkswagen more than one billion euros. VW declined to comment on the report. Insiders confirmed the information to manager magazin. Group boss Herbert Diess (63) was therefore at the end of last week for final talks at Qualcomm headquarters in San Diego.
According to mm information, Qualcomm is said to adapt the chips specifically to Volkswagen’s needs. The order is part of a broad-based rescue operation by CEO Herbert Diess (63) for Cariad. This has been for since the beginning of the year the biggest problem in the group
responsible and must deliver. Because the software isn’t working properly, Porsche’s new Macan and a similar Audi, for example, are behind schedule.
So far, the Intel subsidiary Mobileye has been the favorite for a cooperation with VW, since both companies already cooperate on driver assistance systems. It was only at the beginning of March that CEO Diess was with the software specialist in Israel and tested an autonomously driving prototype there. According to information from manager magazin, talks with Mobileye are continuing. Cooperation with the Israeli company could begin earlier. Those involved report that Mobileye can supply technology for the PPE premium electric platform developed by Porsche and Audi.
The Wolfsburg-based company is now the last major German car company to commit to a long-term chip cooperation. BMW has also signed an agreement with Qualcomm, while Mercedes-Benz relies on the US chip manufacturer Nvidia.