Qualcomm leverages the engineering talent in India to mold its global strategy in the automotive sector
Qualcomm, a leading global semiconductor company, is playing a pivotal role in India's software-defined vehicles (SDVs) market. The company provides advanced semiconductor platforms and digital chassis technologies that enable connected, AI-driven, and software-rich vehicle experiences.
In partnership with major Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra, Qualcomm is accelerating the integration of connected car technologies and digital cockpit solutions.
With Maruti Suzuki, Qualcomm is working on connected car technologies and advanced infotainment systems, aiming to deliver affordable telematics and immersive digital experiences. Meanwhile, the collaboration with Mahindra focuses on integrating digital cockpit solutions and enhancing the in-car user experience through Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Cockpit platform.
These partnerships are part of Qualcomm’s broader strategy to provide Indian automakers with open, scalable, and modular platforms that reduce development costs and enable faster innovation in SDVs. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions, including Snapdragon Cockpit, Ride, Auto Connectivity, and Car-to-Cloud platforms, are tailored to address India’s unique automotive ecosystem and are already powering millions of vehicles globally.
Qualcomm's commitment to the Indian market is reinforced by local engineering teams in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, and Gurgaon. The company is also expanding its focus to two-wheelers, partnering with companies like Royal Enfield for bike-to-cloud platforms.
Qualcomm is interacting with various Indian OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and startups to co-develop the platforms that power this shift. The Snapdragon Car-to-Cloud platform, for instance, enables lifecycle management, including diagnostics, infotainment updates, and predictive maintenance models.
Mahindra is bringing a sharp engineering lens to the Qualcomm story, shifting from vehicle-first design to chip-first architecture. Mahindra is collaborating with Qualcomm on zonal architecture, enabling modular software upgrades without disrupting hardware, which is critical for Indian OEMs seeking long-term flexibility in a cost-sensitive environment.
Qualcomm's compute platforms, such as the Snapdragon 8295, are enabling Mahindra to offer scalable feature sets, including 360-degree vision and multi-screen cockpits. The company's strategy in India is about enabling an ecosystem, not just pushing products.
Maruti Suzuki is transitioning toward digitalized platforms, offering digital cockpit and connected solutions even in high-volume segments. India-based engineers have played a critical role in Qualcomm's Snapdragon Ride development, tuning safety stacks for L2+/L3 autonomy.
Qualcomm is also engaging in V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) infrastructure, working with regulatory agencies and pilot projects for non-line-of-sight communication. All new EV platforms in India today are inherently software-defined.
The unique approach to SDVs in India is influenced by platform convergence, affordability, and fast-tracked digitalization. Qualcomm's digital chassis is seen as a compelling fit for India's high-volume, high-variance market due to its flexible silicon, open software stack, and local co-development model.
Qualcomm believes it is well positioned to serve both ends of the SDV market: feature-rich vehicles at scale and premium platforms with compute-heavy systems. The company's India-based teams have contributed to core global platforms, from ADAS algorithms to cockpit UI/UX, V2X stacks, and cloud-based diagnostics.
In conclusion, Qualcomm's partnerships with major Indian OEMs and its commitment to local engineering teams are driving the revolution of software-defined vehicles in India. The company's open, scalable, and modular platforms are enabling faster innovation and cost reduction, making advanced features accessible to the masses without compromising on reliability or affordability.
In collaboration with Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra, Qualcomm is integrating connected car technologies and digital cockpit solutions, aiming to deliver affordable telematics and immersive digital experiences in the automotive industry. Qualcomm's Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions, such as the Snapdragon Cockpit platform, are being used to enhance the in-car user experience in the transportation sector.
