Qualcomm Technologies and BMW Group have introduced Snapdragon Ride Pilot, the companies’ new automated driving (AD) system resulting from a three-year collaborative effort.
This state-of-the-art AD system is built on Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Ride system-on-chips (SoCs) using the leading-edge Snapdragon Ride AD software stack co-developed by both companies.
The system is engineered to meet 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.
Snapdragon Ride Pilot made its global debut today in the all-new BMW iX3, 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.
The development of the Snapdragon Ride AD software stack in Snapdragon Ride Pilot is a 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 together for three years to bring this technology to life.
The Snapdragon Ride AD software stack features a perception stack developed by Qualcomm Technologies and 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.
Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President, Development Driving Experience at BMW Group, noted that, “This collaboration has enabled us to develop a cutting-edge driver assistance system, setting a new benchmark. Smart, symbiotic, and safe is the core of the BMW philosophy when it comes to ADAS, our new BMW iX3 will deliver this on an unprecedented level.”
“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,” said Nakul Duggal, Group General Manager, Automotive and Industrial and Embedded IoT at Qualcomm Technologies.
