LG Electronics teams up with Qualcomm to develop 5G connected car platform

[Photo provided by LG Electronics Inc.]

LG Electronics Inc. is collaborating with Qualcomm Technologies for the development of a 5G connected car platform, according to industry sources on Wednesday, as the South Korean tech giant is beefing up its presence in the automotive business.

Qualcomm, the world¡¯s No. 1 semiconductor supplier in telematics and wireless car connectivity, announced on Tuesday (U.S. time) that it has commenced the development of 5G technology for next-generation connected cars based on its partnership with LG Electronics and tire maker Continental AG among others.

The announcement comes after LG Electronics¡¯ new partnership with Canadian auto parts maker Magna International to set up a joint venture to make electric car motors and parts as part of its efforts to expand its automotive business.

[Photo by Yonhap]

Qualcomm entered the automotive business in the early 2000s and has been supplying 4G LTE platforms to a number of car manufacturers since 2013. It is now aiming to expand its portfolio to 5G platforms to meet the needs in the era of autonomous vehicles. LG Electronics¡¯ platform connects cars and nearby base stations, enabling car navigation, game playing, real-time video watching, and emergency calling.

In particular, 5G is expected to play a key role in full-scale penetration of autonomous vehicles as 5G has the advantages of ultra-high speed and ultra-low latency capabilities.

[Photo provided by LG Electronics Inc.]

LG Electronics and Qualcomm have long been in a friendly relationship. In 2004, the two jointly developed telematics technology, and in 2017, they signed a partnership to collaborate on connected car solutions.

In 2019, the two agreed to strengthen the ecosystem of LG Electronics' in-vehicle infotainment system called webOS Auto.

As mobile innovation leaders, LG Electronics and Qualcomm Technologies are mobilizing decades of research and development experience to the automotive industry around the area of 5G automotive platforms, said Park Jong-sun, vice president of LG Electronics, adding that LG Electronics has been able to build a complete 5G connected car platform based on its long-term cooperation with Qualcomm.

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