Qualcomm to Localise Automotive Module Production in India, Boosting EV and Connected Car Ecosystem

US chipmaker Qualcomm is set to localise the production of automotive modules in India, aiming to strengthen its presence in the country’s fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) and connected car market. Nakul Duggal, Group General Manager for Automotive, Industrial, and Embedded IoT at Qualcomm Technologies, said the company is actively working with its Tier 1 ecosystem partners to shift manufacturing from Taiwan, China, and Korea to India. The move is part of Qualcomm’s broader strategy to invest heavily in India’s automotive sector and support local carmakers.

As a fabless company, Qualcomm designs chips but outsources manufacturing, focusing on building opportunities within its supply chain to direct production locally. Nearly 60% of Qualcomm’s global workforce, about 22,000 employees, is based in India, including a team dedicated to working with domestic automakers such as Tata Motors, Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, and Hyundai.

Qualcomm supplies advanced chipsets for telematics, infotainment, and driver assistance systems, including its Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite platforms. These are expected to feature in around a dozen vehicle models by 2026. Duggal emphasised that creating automotive products tailored to Indian needs will offer manufacturers a competitive edge, mirroring China’s success in this approach.

The automotive division contributes roughly 10% of Qualcomm’s global revenue, estimated at $3.6–$3.8 billion. The company aims to double this figure to $8 billion by 2029, leveraging India’s strong base of both domestic and global automakers manufacturing locally.

Source: The Economic Times