Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 8, 2026
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleVolkswagen partners with Qualcomm to provide infotainment tech for its new platform, aiming to compete with Tesla and BYD. Launch expected in 2027.
BERLIN, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Volkswagen plans a long-term supply deal with U.S. chip designer Qualcomm to deliver infotainment technology for the German carmaker's new software platform.
Qualcomm will provide high-performance system-on-chips for infotainment capabilities starting in 2027, Volkswagen said.
The companies have signed a letter of intent to make Qualcomm the primary tech provider for the platform, which Volkswagen is developing with U.S. partner Rivian.
Volkswagen and Rivian are carrying out winter tests on the software platform, with $1 billion in Volkswagen investment dependent on completion of technological milestones this year.
The joint venture is a key part of Volkswagen's effort to catch up with rivals such as BYD and Tesla, with the first of its cars using software from the partnership set to launch in 2027, starting with the electric ID.Every1.
The new 'software-defined vehicles' are controlled by central computers and rely on high-performance chips.
(Reporting by Rachel More; Editing by Alexander Smith)
Infotainment technology refers to integrated systems in vehicles that provide entertainment and information to drivers and passengers, often including features like navigation, audio/video playback, and connectivity options.
System-on-chips (SoCs) are integrated circuits that combine all components of a computer or other electronic system into a single chip, including the CPU, memory, and input/output ports.
A software platform is a framework that allows developers to build and run applications, providing the necessary tools and services for software development.
A joint venture is a business arrangement where two or more parties agree to pool their resources for a specific project or business activity, sharing profits and risks.
Explore more articles in the Finance category
