Qualcomm Inc, a chip designer, said on Monday that it would purchase Autotalks Ltd, an Israeli firm that makes chips used in technologies to avert car accidents.
Because of the increasing number of chips used by automakers to support the growing prevalence of electric cars and autonomous functionalities in autos, the automotive industry is a critical growth area for chipmakers.
Autotalks develops specialized chips for V2X communications technology, which is utilized in both human-driven and autonomous vehicles.
“We have been investing in V2X research, development, and deployment since 2017, and we believe that as the automotive market matures, a standalone V2X safety architecture will be needed for enhanced road user safety, as well as smart transportation systems,” said Nakul Duggal, senior vice president – automotive, Qualcomm Technologies.
Qualcomm said last year that its “pipeline” for the automotive sector had increased to $30 billion, a more than $10 billion increase from a prior estimate published in late July.
The company attributed the growth to the Snapdragon Digital Chassis product, which is utilized by automakers and suppliers.
In addition to assisted and automated driving capabilities, the Snapdragon Digital Chassis may feature in-car entertainment and cloud connectivity.
Qualcomm stated on Monday that it would include Autotalks’ technologies into its Snapdragon Digital Chassis product line. The acquisition’s financial details were not revealed.
Furthermore, Qualcomm said that Qualcomm Technologies would be in charge of the deal.
