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Qualcomm automotive safety technology to be integrated with the system from Autotalks
US mobile processor maker Qualcomm plans to acquire Israeli company Autotalks. The move will allow the buyer to improve its automotive safety technology based on the Snapdragon processor. The deal is worth around US$400 million. Qualcomm has been an investor in the Israeli project since 2017.
Autotalks makes chips that are used for sensors in vehicles. Using V2X technology, the vehicle’s system analyses the situation on the road, allowing the driver to detect hazards. The solution is used for both autonomous driving and guided vehicles. The sensors provide information about the situation in blind spots. In addition, the system can communicate with sensors in other cars, increasing the accuracy and speed of the analysis. The solution demonstrates excellent results when operating on difficult road sections and in varying weather and light conditions.
Qualcomm plans to use the Autotalks solution for its Snapdragon mobility and security technology.
Autotalks has been on the market since 2009. Since then, the startup has raised around US$110 million in funding. Its investors include Toyota, Samsung and other well-known companies and venture capital funds. As for Qualcomm, it supplies its systems to carmakers Volkswagen, Mercedes, General Motors and others. In 2022, the company increased the contracts for the use of its solutions for the automotive industry. They totalled US$ 30 billion. In the last financial period, the turnover of this division was US$1.3 billion.
Relevance of car safety
Safety has become an increasingly urgent issue for the road transport industry in recent times. Every year, an estimated 1.3 million people worldwide are killed in road traffic accidents, the vast majority of whom are children and people under 29. With these trends, there is a growing need for systems and solutions that can provide a high level of protection for road users.
Qualcomm is innovating in this area. It offers the Snapdragon platform for autonomous driving. This solution uses AI technologies to detect objects on the road and signal them to the vehicle system. Qualcomm intends to pay even more attention to this area, as it believes it will become a significant source of revenue for the company. By 2026, the company plans to grow automotive revenues to US$4 billion. To achieve this, Qualcomm is actively investing in various software and chip development startups. The company also acquired another Israeli startup, Cellwize Wireless, in 2022.