In a strategic move to compete with industry giants Nvidia and Qualcomm, Intel announced on Tuesday its foray into the automotive semiconductor market. The tech giant plans to launch automotive versions of its latest AI-enabled chips designed to power the future brains of cars. This ambitious venture is accompanied by the acquisition of French startup Silicon Mobility specializing in system-on-a-chip technology and software for electric vehicle motors and onboard charging systems.
Chinese automaker Zeekr will be the first to integrate Intel’s AI system-on-a-chip aiming to enhance in-vehicle experiences with features like AI voice assistants and video conferencing. Intel’s automotive system-on-a-chip products will be adapted from their recently launched AI PC technology ensuring durability and performance tailored to the automotive environment.
While Intel has previously supplied chips for infotainment systems in 50 million vehicles it aims to regain prominence in the automotive sector. The company seeks to distinguish itself by providing chips that can be utilized across various vehicle models from budget to premium offering scalability that competitors may lack.
Jack Weast, Intel’s automotive business chief emphasized the company’s commitment to effective communication of its success in the automotive domain. Weast aims to dispel any notion of Intel’s underperformance in comparison to Nvidia and Qualcomm.
Highlighting scalability Weast referenced the power consumption and cost concerns associated with competitors products especially Nvidia’s high-powered expensive solutions. Intel’s approach involves creating chips that cater to a wide spectrum of vehicles making AI integration more accessible for automakers.
In an effort to capture the fast-growing electric vehicle market in China, Intel is positioning itself as an adaptable partner accommodating the diverse technology preferences of automakers. The company will not impose the use of specific chips for advanced driving functions offering flexibility for automakers to incorporate their own chiplets at a lower cost.
As Intel embarks on this automotive venture, the battleground for supremacy in semiconductor technology for connected and automated vehicles intensifies setting the stage for a dynamic and competitive future in the automotive industry.
