Qualcomm and BMW Group Unveil Groundbreaking Automated Driving System with Jointly Developed Software Stack

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 5, 2025--

NASDAQ: QCOM

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250905530382/en/

Highlights:

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) and BMW Group today 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.

“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 & Embedded IoT, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “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.”

“Together with Qualcomm Technologies, we've created a groundbreaking system, which is a significant contribution to the big technological leap we take with our Neue Klasse,” said Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President Development Driving Experience, BMW Group. “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.”

Introducing the Snapdragon Ride AD Software Stack

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.

The stack is structured into multiple layers including:

Stack development and testing is supported by the data and simulation factory, a key component of Snapdragon Ride. This toolchain integrates real-world data with synthetic data generation and AI-based simulations to create a robust and diverse set of driving scenarios, enhancing the training and testing of automotive models. The factory's capabilities allow for fast development of automated driving software capable of addressing complex real-world scenarios.

Snapdragon Ride Pilot supports over-the-air (OTA) updates and is fully customizable via the Snapdragon Ride SDK, giving automakers the flexibility to tailor solutions across vehicle segments. The software stack leverages fleet data to evolve and enable enhanced safety and comfort over the life of the vehicle.

Snapdragon Ride Platform Powers Automated Driving in BMW´s Neue Klasse

The ADAS system in the all-new BMW iX3 is built on Snapdragon Ride, which integrates high-performance, automotive-grade systems-on-chip (SoCs) for centralized sensor data processing, advanced computer vision modules for perception, and Snapdragon Ride Automated Driving software stack co-developed with BMW—including drive policy and safety guardrails.

The automated driving system of the BMW iX3 enables advanced capabilities including:

BMW's “Superbrain of Automated Driving”—a central intelligent computer powered by Snapdragon Ride SoCs—combines automated driving functions, offering 20 times higher computing power than the previous generation. The system uses a unified architecture which includes an array of high-definition 8M pixel and 3M pixel cameras and radar sensors enabling 360-degree coverage and along with high-definition mapping and precise GNSS localization enables a robust system helping to enable safe and reliable automated driving.

The BMW iX3 is also equipped with Qualcomm Technologies’ V2X 200 chipset to support vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications for enhanced safety. V2X communications allows vehicles to “see” and “hear” beyond line-of-sight ADAS sensors, helping reduce collisions by uncovering unseen risks through direct communication between vehicles and their surroundings, such as road infrastructure, pedestrians, and other road users.

To learn more about our Snapdragon Ride system solutions, please read here or visit us at IAA Mobility 2025 in Hall A2, Booth C01, beginning on Monday, September 8.

About Qualcomm

Qualcomm relentlessly innovates to deliver intelligent computing everywhere, helping the world tackle some of its most important challenges. Building on our 40 years of technology leadership in creating era-defining breakthroughs, we deliver a broad portfolio of solutions built with our leading-edge AI, high-performance, low-power computing, and unrivaled connectivity. Our Snapdragon ® platforms power extraordinary consumer experiences, and our Qualcomm Dragonwing™ products empower businesses and industries to scale to new heights. Together with our ecosystem partners, we enable next-generation digital transformation to enrich lives, improve businesses, and advance societies. At Qualcomm, we are engineering human progress.

Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering and research and development functions and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business. Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patents are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated.

Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

Qualcomm, Qualcomm Dragonwing and Snapdragon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated.

BMW iX3

BMW iX3

BMW iX3

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — JuJu Watkins made the most of her brief trip to the USA Basketball senior national team camp.

While she wasn't able to participate in the on-court activities because the Southern California star is still recovering from an ACL injury she suffered last March, Watkins saw the invitation as an opportunity to grow her leadership abilities.

“It’s enough just being (here) and feeling the energy, that’s mostly what I’ve picked up on,” the reigning AP Player of the Year said. “Hearing everyone’s voices, the communications, the leadership, it’s something that you can see automatically. It brings up your standards, so I’ll definitely be taking some of these lessons back to USC to continue to grow as a leader and a player.”

Watkins was able to get up a few stationary shots with coaches after practice was over, which was a positive step in her rehab.

“Whatever I can do, I am trying to maximize that,” she said.

Watkins had announced in September that she would miss the entire college season to give her full attention to rehab. She said Friday that she had tried to put off the decision whether to play for as long as possible, but in the end she “had to come to terms with where I was at. Getting over that mental curve has been the biggest thing."

U.S. coach Kara Lawson said it was important that Watkins, who will be a vital part of the team in the future, to attend the camp.

“We wanted her here ... I think you can see that there’s a great deal of talent there, and that’s somebody that is going to be in the conversation, obviously, in the future,” Lawson said. “We were really intentional about inviting her here and having her be a part of it. I think there’s great value in having her observe and be around the group, and then just the connectivity."

Watkins was only around on Thursday and Friday because she returned to Los Angeles for the 16th-ranked Trojans' game against No. 1 UConn on Saturday.

Being at camp gave her a chance to connect in person with Paige Bueckers. Watkins said Bueckers has been great in helping her with her ACL rehab. Bueckers missed the 2022-23 season with her own ACL tear.

“She’s been checking on me every couple months. Great person,” Watkins said. "So to be here with her, and see her kill it, and see her on the other side of it, it’s very inspiring. She’s just helped me throughout the process of sending the texts, checking in on me, that’s meant a great deal.”

Watkins said she had always wanted to be part of the senior team. The Olympics are in her hometown of Los Angeles in 2028.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to be in this atmosphere, so to live out those dreams, even though it looks different, I’m still blessed to be here,” she said.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Juju Watkins speaks to the media after a training camp for the U.S women's national basketball team, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)