LG, Qualcomm Join Hands for Autonomous Driving

LG Electronics said Thursday that it will work with Qualcomm to jointly research and develop autonomous driving technologies.

The South Korean company said in a statement that the US chipmaker and the company have opened a joint research centre in Seoul and will open another one in Seoul by the end of 2018.

Their joint research will focus on developing the fifth-generation wireless technology known as 5G, which could deliver data at a much faster speed than the current wireless technology and is seen as crucial for autonomous vehicles. They will also research other wireless technologies needed for the safety of connected cars, LG said in a statement.

LG Electronics, a major TV and home appliance manufacturer with a struggling mobile business, has been trying to diversify by supplying components for connected car makers

"LG plans to lead the next-generation vehicle components market by combining our experience in automotive communication technologies with Qualcomm's advanced connected solutions from LTE to 5G," said Kim Jin-yong, executive vice president of LG's Vehicle Components Smart Business Unit. "We are optimistic that the combined research strength of Qualcomm and LG will yield benefits that would not be feasible working independently."

"Building on our long-standing relationship with LG, this effort to advance C-V2X technology further demonstrates our continued commitment to the development of advanced solutions for safe, connected and increasingly autonomous vehicles," said Nakul Duggal, vice president of product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "With the automotive industry on a clear path to 5G, we look forward to working together with LG to meet the demands of today's drivers and advance the commercialization of C-V2X technology in next-gen vehicles."