German automaker Volkswagen plans to enter a long-term supply agreement with U.S. chip designer Qualcomm to provide infotainment technology for its next-generation vehicle software platform.
Under the planned deal, Qualcomm will supply high-performance system-on-chips to power infotainment features starting in 2027, Volkswagen said. The companies have signed a letter of intent that would make Qualcomm the primary technology provider for the platform.
The new software architecture is being developed in partnership with U.S. electric vehicle maker Rivian. Volkswagen said winter testing of the platform is currently under way, with a planned $1 billion investment in Rivian tied to the achievement of specific technological milestones later this year.
The joint initiative is central to Volkswagen’s strategy to close the gap with rivals such as BYD and Tesla, both of which have advanced rapidly in software-driven vehicle development. The first Volkswagen models to use software from the partnership are expected to launch in 2027, beginning with the electric ID.Every1.
Volkswagen said the platform is designed around “software-defined vehicles,” which are controlled by central computers and depend heavily on powerful chips to manage infotainment, connectivity, and other digital functions. The partnership with Qualcomm is intended to ensure the performance and scalability required for this new generation of vehicles.
