The new R&D center will be located in the city of Chongqing
Qualcomm has inked a partnership with Chinese tech firm Thunder Software Technology to establish a smart cars lab in mainland China.
According to international press reports, the new research and development facility will be located in Chongqing, in southwest China. Thundersoft is a provider of in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) solutions for connected vehicles.
The primary goal of the smart cars lab will be to create an ecosystem for IoT and boost research and development into IoT connected smart cars in China. The new center also looks to attracts additional car manufacturers and research institutions to establish their own facilities in the cluster. The center’s main areas of research will include intelligent cockpit and control systems, as well as interface and user experience.
“China has gradually become a core market in the global wave of development for IoT and connected smart cars,” said Frank Meng, chairman of Qualcomm China. “Chongqing is a metropolis with one of the biggest potentials for investment in western China. The city has speeded up its efforts in cultivating strategic emerging industries in recent years and has made notable progress.
Meng also said that the main aim of the strategic partnership is to strengthen Qualcomm’s cooperation with Chongqing city and Thunder Software Technology, as well as the relevant ecosystem in China. “We will use our industry-leading technology and help realize the future of internet of everything,” the executive said.
Meawhile, Wu Cunrong, executive vice-mayor of Chongqing, said the city will support Qualcomm and Thunder Software’s projects in the city and accelerate the development of artificial intelligence and information service.
The announcement of the creation of the smart cars lab came after Qualcomm and Thunder Software established a joint venture in February 2016 in Chongqing, to accelerate research and innovation in the IoT field.
