Qualcomm’s Snapdragon brand accelerates its presence in the automotive sector with BMW’s 2026 models to feature Snapdragon chips, while expanding strategic collaborations with major Indian OEMs including Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra, and Hero MotoCorp, signalling a major shift in connected vehicle technology and smart mobility solutions.
Qualcomm Technologies, via its Snapdragon brand, is swiftly broadening its reach in the automotive scene—delivering an array of connected, smart, and AI-enhanced solutions designed for both passenger vehicles and bikes. Recently, the Snapdragon Auto Day event held in Delhi offered a detailed look into their expanding partnerships and the innovative tech deployments, especially emphasizing India’s automotive landscape along with notable global collaborations.
One of the standout moments was BMW announcing their decision to use Snapdragon chips across their 2026 model lineup. These chips are set to power key features like integrated driving systems, parking assistance, and in-cabin monitoring, marking a pretty significant step up for Snapdragon’s involvement in the luxury automotive world. This move, not surprising given the industry trends highlighted at events like IAA Mobility 2023, underscores a growing confidence in Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis—a cloud-connected software suite that combines telematics, ADAS, connectivity, and processing power. BMW’s inclusion joins a roster of top manufacturers like Mercedes and Jaguar Land Rover, who are also embedding these digital techs into their next-gen vehicles, all aiming to ramp up safety, automation, and overall user experience.
Meanwhile, in India, Qualcomm is really deepening its automotive collaborations, teaming up with big OEMs such as Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra, Tata Motors, Hero MotoCorp, Royal Enfield, and Ultraviolette. Since 2022, Maruti Suzuki has been rolling out Snapdragon-based platforms in their cars, with plans to include these techs in upcoming electric models like the e-Vitara. Mahindra, for its part, is utilizing Snapdragon Cockpit and Auto Connectivity solutions to boost the interior experience in both electric and traditional internal combustion engine vehicles—think advanced audio, smart sensing, and immersive features like will.i.am’s RAiDiO.FYI or Melodic Drive. They’re also venturing into more cutting-edge territory with Qualcomm’s Data Insights and edge diagnostics, which enable real-time, data-driven vehicle testing for future SUVs—this should speed up development and cut costs, no doubt.
And then there’s the Indian two-wheeler sector, which is also jumping on the Snapdragon bandwagon. Hero MotoCorp, for example, is using these solutions to boost ride connectivity and intelligence, offering features like 4G/5G, Bluetooth, GPS, theft alerts, and even notifications about charging stations, making folks’ rides safer and more connected. Brands like UltraViolet and Royal Enfield aren’t left out—they’re weaving Snapdragon-powered connected clusters and integrated connectivity features into their bikes, further expanding Qualcomm’s footprints beyond just cars. It’s pretty clear that the company is helping drive the connected mobility revolution across different types of vehicles.
Right now, Qualcomm’s automotive tech backs over 350 million vehicles worldwide, and that number’s only expected to grow now that digitalization in cars is accelerating. The company also has a strong tech presence in India, with R&D centers in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Gurugram focused on developing and localizing platforms—covering telematics, ADAS, digital cockpits, and two-wheeler connectivity solutions.
For those working along the supply chain—OEMs, logistics firms, distributors, garages, and fleet managers—staying up-to-date with Snapdragon’s evolving platforms is crucial. These technologies are transforming everything from vehicle user interfaces to safety features, and they’re also helping manufacturers optimize production and vehicle performance via real-time telematics and diagnostics. As more carmakers embed Snapdragon tech into their vehicles, aftermarket players will likely see changes too—think new kinds of services built around AI diagnostics, connected maintenance, and software updates.
All in all, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Auto Day really shows how the latest digital automotive tech is coming together with strategic industry partnerships. This signals a big leap in intelligent, connected mobility—both in India and worldwide. The announcement about BMW’s upcoming Snapdragon-powered models for 2026 is especially noteworthy, not just because it’s a luxury brand, but because it clearly underscores the increasing trust in Qualcomm’s platforms at the highest levels of automotive design and manufacturing. Essentially, Snapdragon is being set up as a key enabler for the future of mobility ecosystems—pretty exciting stuff, right?
Source: Noah Wire Services