Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. along with BMW Group introduced Snapdragon Ride Pilot, the companies’ new automated driving (AD) system which is a result of a three-year collaborative effort.
This state-of-the-art AD system is manufactured on Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Ride™ system-on-chips (SoCs) by using the leading-edge Snapdragon Ride AD software stack co-developed by both companies.
This technology is engineered to cater to the highest safety standards and supports AD levels ranging from entry-level New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) to Level 2+ highway and urban navigation on autopilot (NOA) capabilities.
The launch of Snapdragon Ride Pilot in the all-new BMW iX3, through the first production vehicle in BMW’s Neue Klasse and has been validated for use in more than 60 countries with expected expansion to over 100 countries in 2026. Snapdragon Ride Pilot is now available to all global automakers and Tier-1 suppliers through Qualcomm Technologies.
Nakul Duggal, Group General Manager said “Our collaboration with BMW’s world-class engineering team has been truly transformative, enabling us to build a world-class system that is now available to bring the safety and comfort benefits of automated driving to consumers across all regions and vehicle tiers, together, we’ve created Snapdragon Ride Pilot—a revolutionary driver assistance system that prioritizes safety and sets a new standard for the industry. We’re excited to see this system come to life in the BMW iX3, supporting BMW's vision for intelligent and safe driving, and we anticipate its widespread adoption will drive a new era of innovation and excellence in mobility solutions.”
According to coherent market insights, the automotive software industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.1% during 2025 to 2032. Currently, the market is at USD 18.19 Bn in 2025 and is expected to be around USD 43.08 Bn by 2032. the rapid adoption of electronic systems in vehicles for advanced driver-assistance, in-car connectivity and automation, the demand for automotive software is growing significantly.
The release of the Snapdragon Ride AD software stack in Snapdragon Ride Pilot is a noteworthy testament of global collaboration, with over 1,400 specialists from various locations, including Germany, the USA, Sweden, Romania and the BMW AD Test Center in the Czech Republic, working unitedly for three years to bring this technology to life in the near future.
The Snapdragon Ride AD software stack features a perception stack developed by Qualcomm Technologies as well as a drive policy engine co-developed with BMW. It is engineered to enable automakers and Tier-1 suppliers to build scalable solutions with flexibility, cost savings and fast time-to-market, with their own drive policy or with a turnkey platform.
The BMW iX3 is also equipped with Qualcomm Technologies’ V2X 200 chipset to support vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications for enhanced safety.
Source:
Press Release: Qualcomm
Company: Qualcomm
