Maruti Suzuki, India’s largest automaker, has entered into a partnership with Qualcomm to incorporate the company’s new Snapdragon Elite automotive chips into its upcoming vehicles. While the specific reasons for this collaboration remain unclear, experts speculate that these advanced chips could enhance Maruti Suzuki’s future vehicles with cutting-edge safety systems, connected car technologies, and other smart features.
This development follows Qualcomm’s previous partnerships with other Indian automotive giants, such as Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra. The collaboration is set to bring Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite chips into Maruti Suzuki’s fleet, as announced at the Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii last month. Both chips are designed specifically for the automotive sector and will be integral to Qualcomm’s Digital Chassis Solution portfolio.
The Snapdragon Cockpit Elite chip is aimed at enhancing in-vehicle digital experiences, while the Snapdragon Ride Elite chip will support automated driving features. Both chips can be integrated into a single system on a chip (SoC) due to their flexible architecture, allowing automakers to combine advanced infotainment systems, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), real-time driver monitoring, and parking and lane assistance, though these features remain unconfirmed at this stage.
Both chips are equipped with Qualcomm’s powerful Oryon CPU, Adreno GPU, and Hexagon NPU, delivering up to three times faster CPU speeds and up to 12 times faster AI performance compared to previous generations. Additionally, they support over 40 multimodal sensors, including up to 20 high-resolution cameras, offering comprehensive 360-degree coverage. These chips are designed to leverage AI-enhanced imaging tools to optimize vehicle sensors and provide seamless integration with the latest automotive technologies.
Qualcomm has announced that both the Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite chips will be available for sampling in 2025. This collaboration signals a significant leap toward smarter, more connected vehicles, positioning Maruti Suzuki as a key player in the evolving automotive landscape.
