Qualcomm, BMW Launch Automated Driving System, Snapdragon Ride Pilot, for Hands-Free Highway Driving

American chipmaker Qualcomm and luxury carmaker BMW have unveiled an automated driving system called Snapdragon Ride Pilot. According to Reuters, the Qualcomm BMW automated driving system offers new features like hands-free assistance that could attract new customers.

A Jointly Developed System

Ride Pilot is built on the Snapdragon Ride system-on-a-chip. The AI-powered software system was developed jointly by Qualcomm and BMW. The partnership between the two companies highlights the growing role that automakers play in the design of their autonomous systems.

“Our collaboration with BMW’s world-class engineering team has been truly transformative, enabling us to build a world-class system that is not available to bring safety and comfort benefits of automated driving for consumers across all regions and vehicle tiers.” Group General Manager, Automotive and Industrial & Embedded IoT at Qualcomm Technologies Nakul Duggal said.

BMW said its collaboration with Qualcomm has been invaluable in developing a top-notch product. The company referred to Ride Pilot as a groundbreaking system.

“Together with Qualcomm Technologies, we’ve created a groundbreaking system, which is a significant contribution to the big technological leap we take with our Neue Klasse. This collaboration has enabled us to develop a cutting-edge driver assistance system, setting a new benchmark. Smart, symbiotic and safe is the core of the BMW philosophy when it comes to ADAS. Our new BMW iX3 will deliver this on an unprecedented level,” Senior VP, Development Driving Experience at BMW Group Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi said.

Launching Ride Pilot in BMW iX3 Model

BMW launched the Snapdragon Ride Pilot in the Munich auto show on September 5, 2025 in its electric BMW iX3 model. The BMW iX3 automated driving features offers parking assistance, automatic lane changes, and hands-free highway driving.
“We’re excited to see this system come to life in the BMW iX3, supporting BMW’s vision for intelligent and safe driving, and we anticipate its widespread adoption will drive a new era of innovation and excellence in mobility solutions,” Duggal added.

According to Qualcomm, the system is designed to meet the highest safety standards. Although the hands-free feature offers convenience, the Qualcomm BMW hands-free driving tech also improves safety.

“We believe at Qualcomm that ADAS [advanced driver-assist systems] and automated driving should be as prevalent as seatbelts, not only for the safety benefits that it brings to the car, but also for the convenience and productivity improvements that technology brings to users worldwide,” Qualcomm VP for Product Marketing Ignacio Contreras said in a briefing.

“Smart, symbiotic and safe is the core of the BMW philosophy when it comes to ADAS. Our new BMW iX3 will deliver this on an unprecedented level,” Dr. Ayoubi added.

Ride Pilot does not offer fully autonomous driving, and driver supervision is still required. Qualcomm says the new driver-assistance technology has been validated for use in at least 60 countries. Plans are already underway to expand this coverage to more than 100 countries in 2026. The driver-assistance system will be availed in all automakers and Tier-1 suppliers.

The Competitive Automotive Industry

Competition in the automated driving market has increased significantly with Mobileye Global and NVIDIA seeking to attract new customers with their platforms and chips. U.S. EV manufacturers like Tesla and General Motors provide driver-assistance systems in their vehicles. However, each company adopts a different technology stack in their systems.

In October 2024, Tesla’s FSD system faced NHTSA investigation after a driver who was using the software hit and killed a pedestrian. The probe was also triggered by other FSD-related collisions in low-visibility situations.

Qualcomm is known for its leadership in smartphone chips supply. In May 2025, Qualcomm said its data center chips would work with NVIDIA AI technology. The company designed the chips to power AI systems and offer compatibility with the AI infrastructure.

However, the chipmaker has been looking to expand the Qualcomm automotive portfolio in the automotive electronics industry, as more automakers turn to advanced chips and processors to power high-tech features. Qualcomm produces advanced driver-assistance, telematics, and infotainment systems.

The California-based chip maker reported a 21% rise in automotive revenue in the third quarter. It expects its annual automotive chip revenue to reach $8 billion by 2029. The company says it currently has about $45 billion in future within its automotive pipeline currently.