Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Ride Elite for Automotive Platforms launched with Car-to-Cloud, AI features, and More

Qualcomm Technologies has unveiled its latest automotive platforms, featuring the Qualcomm Oryon CPU, which stands as the fastest CPU optimized for automotive use.

These top-tier platforms, part of the Snapdragon Digital Chassis Solution lineup, are designed to enhance power and intelligence in next-gen vehicles, as demonstrated at the Snapdragon Summit 2024.

Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite -

Automakers can choose between Snapdragon Cockpit Elite for an upgraded digital experience or Snapdragon Ride Elite for automated driving capabilities. These platforms offer a flexible architecture that integrates both digital cockpit and automated driving functionalities into a single system-on-chip (SoC) within the Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions.

Key Features -

• Enhanced AI Performance - Equipped with a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU), the platform aims for a 12x performance boost compared to previous cockpit platforms. This enables real-time data processing from the external environment and the vehicle’s cabin, supporting live decision-making and personalized in-cabin experiences. With transformer accelerators and vector engines, the Snapdragon Ride Elite NPU is optimized for low latency and efficient operation.

• Flexible Centralized Processing - The platform allows for seamless multitasking across multiple applications without sacrificing performance. It easily handles various sensors, cameras, and AI-powered audio, helping automakers create customizable software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and accelerating the implementation of new technologies.
• Industry-Leading Power Efficiency - Designed for optimal performance with minimal energy consumption, the solution integrates intelligent power management through both hardware and software.

• Intuitive Experiences - These platforms enable context-aware applications for hands-free automated driving and enhanced object detection for a safer driving experience. The updated Qualcomm Adreno GPU delivers up to 3x better performance, addressing the demands of gaming and multimedia.

• Safety-Centered Design - Adhering to ASIL-D automotive safety standards, the architecture ensures the safe operation of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) with robust hardware isolation.
• Software-Defined Architecture - Built for the era of SDVs, the platforms focus on upgradeability and continuous enhancement via a unified software framework, simplifying development.
• Advanced Camera Subsystem - A powerful camera system with an Image Signal Processor (ISP) supports over 40 multimodal sensors, including up to 20 high-resolution cameras for comprehensive external and in-cabin monitoring.
• Automated Driving and AI Software Stack - Snapdragon Ride Elite delivers a complete automated driving solution with vision perception and path planning capabilities. Meanwhile, Snapdragon Cockpit Elite supports advanced multimedia features, optimized gaming, and 3D graphics while ensuring safety and long-term support.

Collaboration with Google -

Qualcomm has announced a multi-year partnership with Google to enhance digital cockpit solutions using generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI).

This collaboration will combine technologies from Snapdragon Digital Chassis, Android Automotive OS, and Google Cloud to establish a standardized framework for cockpit development.

Key Elements of the Collaboration -

• Gen AI-Powered Digital Cockpit Framework - Designed for real-time upgrades, enabling enhanced digital cockpit experiences.
• Unified SDV Car-to-Cloud Framework - A comprehensive infrastructure that supports vehicle-to-cloud development, optimized for Snapdragon platforms, aimed at improving developer efficiency and reducing time to market.

Availability -

The Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite platforms will be available for sampling in 2025, allowing automakers to develop cutting-edge automotive experiences.

Collaborations are already underway with major manufacturers like Li Auto and Mercedes-Benz AG, who plan to feature these platforms in future commercial vehicles.

Nakul Duggal, Group General Manager of Automotive, Industrial, and Cloud at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., said:

"Qualcomm Technologies continues to lead innovation with solutions like Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite, as the automotive industry moves towards centralized computing, software-defined vehicles, and AI-powered architectures. With our most powerful compute, graphics, and AI capabilities, paired with industry-leading power efficiency and advanced software for digital cockpits and automated driving, these new elite Snapdragon platforms are designed to meet the increasing demand for higher computing power, helping automakers redefine the driving experience for their customers."