VW eyes quicker uptake of Qualcomm chips in key platforms

Volkswagen Group is investigating using Qualcomm's powerful computer chips in the updated MEB Plus electric platform as well as the premium-angled PPE platform as the two companies expand their partnership, head of VW's Cariad software division Dirk Hilgenberg said.

VW Group announced it was teaming up with chipmaker Qualcomm, better known for powering Android smartphones, in May last year.

The automaker's original plan was to use the U.S.-based company's chips to power autonomous and semi-autonomous functions in VW Group's Unified architecture, which will eventually replace the MEB and PPE platforms.

However, Cariad is now considering fitting Qualcomm's Snapdragon Ride and new Ride Flex chip platform in electric models that are due as soon as next year.

"We are investigating whether there are opportunities in both MEB and PPE," Hilgenberg said on the sidelines of the CES tech show held in Las Vegas this month.

PPE will launch with the new generation Porsche Macan due in 2024 while MEB Plus is expected to roll out from 2026.

The Unified platform, also called SSP, short for Scalable Systems Platform, will reportedly debut in 2028 instead of 2026 partly because of software delays.

VW was forced to adjust its software strategy after early problems with the ID3 electric compact and other cars on the MEB platform.

The company's software struggles reportedly played a role in the decision to replace former CEO Herbert Diess with Oliver Blume.

Prior to making the switch Diess was facing frequent criticism over delays and cost overruns at software arm Cariad.

Any decision to advance the fitment of Qualcomm chips would mean replacing those supplied by Intel-owned Mobileye, which now supports VW's IQ-Drive advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) functions on MEB-based cars.

VW, however, wants to access the data currently used by Mobileye to build up the supplier's trademarked Road Experience Management (REM) mapping function, which is crucial to expanding ADAS functionality.

"That is why Cariad was founded, because we are lacking access," Hilgenberg said. "We wanted to gain access and have our own data-driven development process."

Access to the data collected and processed by the central system-on-chip is crucial to allow the car to understand tricky driving situations, or corner cases.

"We think the functionality is dependent on the number of corner cases you can actually secure," Hilgenberg said. "That's why we bought into this partnership with Qualcomm. It works our way."

VW Group will employ Qualcomm's new Ride Flex chip that processes both driver assistance and digital cockpit (infotainment) functions on the same chip, reducing the number of chips needed.

More mainstream VW Group models will use the Ride Flex chip while premium cars will use the ADAS-only Ride Flex chip, Qualcomm head of automotive Nakul Duggan told journalists at the CES.