Software-Defined Vehicles and AI Innovations by Qualcomm and Google

Software-defined vehicles are receiving a significant boost as Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Google strengthen their long-standing collaboration. This partnership aims to fast-track the development of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and enhance agentic AI experiences. Integrating Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis with Google’s automotive software will provide secure, scalable AI-driven solutions for numerous vehicles around the globe.

Redefining Intelligent Mobility

Building on the Gemini Enterprise for automotive initiative unveiled in 2025, Qualcomm and Google are presenting new AI-driven solutions at CES 2026 that connect vehicles to the cloud. This adaptable architecture leverages both on-device and cloud-based models to facilitate real-time personalisation for drivers, enabled by sophisticated voice-driven and proactive assistants. For consumers, this means smarter, safer, and increasingly adaptable vehicles with multimodal interfaces and always-on AI functionalities.

Unified Reference Platform for Rapid Innovation

The collaboration is focused on establishing a unified reference platform aimed at hastening development cycles and simplifying production processes for vehicle manufacturers. By synchronising Snapdragon Cockpit Platforms with Google’s Android Automotive OS (AAOS) roadmaps, starting with Android 17, they are laying a foundation for next-gen SDVs and in-vehicle infotainment systems. This partnership will enable automakers to accelerate prototyping and enhance automotive experiences for consumers on a large scale.

Scaling Software-Defined Vehicles

Qualcomm and Google are collaborating to expand AAOS for SDVs using an architecture that incorporates both on-device software and complementary cloud development environments. Qualcomm, as the primary scaling partner, will offer pre-integrated and optimised software on Snapdragon Digital Chassis platforms, thereby reducing time-to-market. This system supports various vehicle domains, including instrument clusters equipped with safety features, granular over-the-air updates, and fleet insights powered by AI and telemetry data.

Cloud-First Automotive Engineering

Qualcomm is launching the Snapdragon vSoC virtual platform on Google Cloud’s Arm-based Axion bare metal instances. This innovation allows automakers to design, test, and validate software entirely in the cloud without relying on physical vehicle hardware. Developers can initiate projects from a laptop browser, facilitating global collaboration and effective scaling of automotive software development.

Lifecycle Management and Project Treble

To optimise Android lifecycle management, Qualcomm is implementing Project Treble for automakers using Snapdragon Cockpit Platforms. This initiative aims to ensure predictable and secure upgrades, covering four generations of Snapdragon Cockpit Platforms and over 14 individual systems-on-chips. Supported by a comprehensive 10-year plan for essential software updates, vehicles will stay connected with the latest features throughout their entire lifecycle.

Patrick Brady, VP of Engineering at Google, noted that this decade-long journey with Qualcomm Technologies has continuously expanded automotive innovation frontiers, and the enhancement of this strategic partnership is exciting. Brady mentioned that as the automotive sector rapidly transitions to an AI-driven, software-defined future, ongoing collaboration is crucial. This alliance combines Google’s advanced software and AI capabilities with Qualcomm Technologies’ foundational hardware, establishing a coherent, scalable platform that accelerates development for automakers globally, ultimately delivering safer, smarter, and more customised experiences for every driver.

Nakul Duggal, EVP and Group GM for Automotive, Industrial and Embedded IoT & Robotics at Qualcomm Technologies, stated that over the past ten years, Qualcomm and Google have led the transformation of the automotive experience, and this day signifies a new chapter in their journey. He expressed that this expanded partnership is pivotal as it merges Qualcomm’s leading Snapdragon Digital Chassis platforms with Google’s unmatched software and AI expertise. Together, they are constructing foundational technology platforms enabling automakers to innovate at an extraordinary pace, accelerating the shift to software-defined vehicles and unlocking the full potential of agentic AI, thus empowering automakers to offer safer, more intelligent, and genuinely personalised mobility for consumers worldwide.