Qualcomm has unveiled its latest automated driving system, developed in partnership with BMW. The Snapdragon Ride Pilot, powered by Qualcomm’s system-on-chips and co-developed software, makes its debut in the newly launched BMW iX3, the first production model in BMW’s Neue Klasse series.
The Snapdragon Ride Pilot has been validated for use in 60 countries, with expansion to over 100 expected next year. Qualcomm said the platform is also available for other automakers and suppliers to integrate into their vehicles.
“Our collaboration with BMW’s world-class engineering team has been truly transformative, enabling us to build a world-class system which 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 GM, Automotive and Industrial & Embedded IoT, Qualcomm Technologies.
Dr Mihiar Ayoubi, senior vice president, Development Driving Experience, BMW Group, added: “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. 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.”
The system integrates high-performance automotive-grade SoCs for centralised sensor processing and computer vision, supporting 360-degree perception. It enables lane recognition, object detection, mapping, traffic sign interpretation, parking assistance, and driver monitoring. AI-driven context-aware driving allows advanced behaviour prediction and planning, while over-the-air updates and customisation via the Snapdragon Ride SDK provide flexibility.
The software stack, built over three years by more than 1,400 specialists across several countries, combines real-world and simulated data to improve safety and comfort. It includes a perception layer from Qualcomm and a drive policy engine co-developed with BMW.
The BMW iX3, equipped with Snapdragon Ride Pilot, offers hands-free driving on approved networks, parking assistance powered by AI, camera-based in-cabin monitoring, and responsive manoeuvres based on subtle driver cues. It also features a “superbrain” combining high-resolution cameras, radar sensors, HD mapping, and GNSS localisation. Qualcomm’s V2X 200 chipset further enables vehicle-to-everything communication, allowing the vehicle to detect potential hazards beyond the reach of traditional sensors.
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