Samsung continues automotive memory market growth

[Courtesy of Samsung Electronics Co.]

Samsung Electronics Co. is continuing its expansion into the automotive memory market by partnering with Qualcomm Inc.

The company announced on Tuesday that it began supplying its LPDDR4X automotive memory to Qualcomm’s premium automotive platform, the Snapdragon Digital Chassis. This is the first automotive semiconductor collaboration between Samsung and Qualcomm, which positions Samsung to potentially supply LPDDR4X to global automakers and automotive suppliers on a long-term basis.

Samsung will provide up to 32GB of LPDDR4X to support Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis, which powers premium in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems. The LPDDR4X meets the AEC-Q100 automotive semiconductor quality standards and ensures a stable performance even in extreme temperatures ranging from -40 to 105 degrees Celsius.

Samsung also plans to mass-produce its next-generation product, LPDDR5, later in 2024, which will be supplied to Qualcomm’s next-generation Snapdragon Digital Chassis. Samsung sees this partnership as a step toward becoming a leader in the automotive memory market.

According to market research firm IHS, Samsung held a 32 percent share in the automotive memory market as of 2023, ranking second behind Micron, which holds a 44 percent stake.

Samsung aims to bolster its competitiveness in the automotive memory sector by developing optimized products and ensuring timely supply, identifying the automotive market as a crucial area for its future memory business. Market research firm Omdia forecasts that the global automotive DRAM market will grow by more than 16 percent annually, with the market size expected to more than double to $7.36 billion by 2028, up from $3.5 billion in 2023.

“We plan to actively target the growing automotive semiconductor market through continuous collaboration with Qualcomm,” the company said.

On the same day, Samsung Electronics also announced two new premium home projectors, The Premiere 9 and The Premiere 7. Both are set to launch in Korea on September 1st, 2024.

The new models can expand their screens to 130 inches and 120 inches respectively. They also feature ultra-short throw technology for easy installation.

The Premiere 9 offers up to 3,450 lumens of brightness with triple laser technology, and The Premiere 7 offers up to 2,500 lumens. Both models deliver vivid and clear picture quality, even in bright environments. In terms of audio, both projectors are equipped with built-in speakers featuring Dolby Atmos technology, providing high-quality sound without the need for additional devices.

The projectors also run on Samsung’s Tizen operating system, offering access to streaming services and supporting Samsung Gaming Hub for cloud-based gaming without additional hardware. The 2024 models of The Premiere will be showcased at Europe‘s largest home appliance and IT exhibition, IFA, in Berlin in early September.

“The Premiere offers Samsung’s advanced laser technology, exceptional picture quality, and immersive sound, setting new standards in home entertainment,” the company said.