Samsung Electronics will supply its Exynos application processors (AP) to German automaker Audi, according to sources in South korea.
The world's largest chipmaker will offer its Exynos processors to Audi starting 2018, though the details have not yet been decided. Samsung Electronics has reportedly been optimizing its Exynos processors to meet the demand made by the German carmaker.
Application processors are tuypically used in mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet PCs. In an automobile, the chip will work like the human brain and will control essential functions such as self-driving and infotainment.
Automotive suppliers and automakers are expanding alliances to develop self-driving car technology that can serve multiple automakers.
Companies such as Tesla Motors, General Motors and Ford Motor, are trying to develop proprietary driverless systems, but the majority of automakers appears to have decided it makes more sense to develop self-driving technology in collaboration with suppliers.
Suppliers including Mobileye, Nvidia and Delphi Automotive are among the more popular technology partners in the self-driving race, with multiple alliances around the globe.
Mobileye supplies cameras, chips and software for driver assist systems to more than two dozen manufacturers. The company was also a supplier of vision systems to Tesla, but the two companies had an acrimonious and public breakup last summer after the driver of a Tesla Model S was killed while operating his vehicle using Tesla's Autopilot system.
Mobileye later secured a partnership with BMW, Intel and Delphi to develop self-driving systems.
The Delphi-Mobileye alliance involves a turn-key system that the partners plan to offer to smaller automakers that lack the resources to develop such systems on their own. It will be ready for production by 2019.
BMW, AG and Volkswagen Audi are holding the majority stake of Here, the mapping company acquired in late 2015 from Nokia. Intel and Mobileye have also recently teamed with Here to pool and share data.
Nvidia is also is ramping up its partnerships in self-driving technology and systems, this week announcing deals with Audi and Here, as well as German suppliers ZF and Bosch.
