CES 2025: Qualcomm goes big – also in the automotive sector

Moore's Law roughly states that the computing power of chips doubles every two years at no additional cost. However, the technology of miniaturization is now hitting physical limits that necessitate new materials and chip architectures. As a result, many see this "law" at risk. However, Qualcomm offers some reassurance, as they also have news for affordable computers – with the name "Snapdragon" once again in focus.

Qualcomm aims to enable the first "AI mini-desktop PC for consumers and businesses"

With the presentation of the new so-called Snapdragon X platform, chip professionals are targeting the price segment up to $600, aiming to make the first "AI mini-desktop PC for consumers and businesses" popular.

The X series from Qualcomm aims to redefine the PC industry by running countless applications: With more than 100 systems expected from leading OEMs by 2026, Snapdragon plans to make advanced AI solutions such as Copilot+ and Moises Live (AI music application) available to all PC users.

In focus despite the crisis: The automotive industry

But they also want to advance in automotive: Based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon Digital Chassis, OEMs and suppliers are working on software-defined vehicles and realizing innovative solutions with technologies like generative AI that ideally revolutionize the driving experience. At the CES, Qualcomm will announce several strategic partnerships with global automakers and Tier-1 suppliers to jointly create intelligent, intuitive, and above all safe driving experiences.

Well-known customer: Leapmotor with the B-series models

A currently well-known customer making waves is Leapmotor: The B10 is already equipped with the next generation of the Snapdragon Cockpit platform and is among the first vehicles worldwide to be powered by the Snapdragon Ride platform.

To this end, the Chinese use their so-called LEAP 3.5 architecture. It is designed to support state-of-the-art applications for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), customizable digital cockpits, and intelligent driving functions. With the synergistic support of the Snapdragon Cockpit and Ride platforms, the B10 aims to offer intelligent, digital, and personalized driving experiences for global users. Even more importantly, Leapmotor aims to have the potential to drive the ongoing development of cockpit-vehicle integration.

The B-series from Leapmotor was specially developed for global markets. The Snapdragon Ride offers powerful, and important for electric cars, energy-efficient hardware and smart artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. This platform is designed to support the powerful computational functions required for enhanced vehicle perception.

Focus on driving safety

This includes a state-of-the-art LiDAR system that is combined with the Snapdragon Ride platform. Thanks to the Snapdragon Ride platform, the intelligent driving system of the B10 can analyze high-resolution maps and complex road conditions in real-time, achieve a deep fusion of multi-sensor data, and continuously evolve to adapt to increasingly challenging road environments.

It also includes an advanced voice assistant based on large models in the cloud: Ideally, it makes the cockpit smarter, more user-friendly, and comfortable. This integration is even expected to anticipate the needs of users in order to improve the overall driving experience. Jiangming Zhu, founder and chairman of Leapmotor, stated:

"The new Leapmotor B-series is an important part of our globalization strategy, and we are proud that these vehicles are powered by Leapmotor's latest LEAP 3.5 architecture and intelligent technology solutions such as Qualcomm Technologies' Snapdragon Cockpit and Ride platform."

And Nakul Duggal, Group General Manager, Automotive, Industrial and Cloud, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. added:

"We are proud to support Leapmotor in developing this global model that delivers digital experiences that exceed user expectations in various markets worldwide. Together we are driving the future development of the electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture of vehicles forward."