What you should know:

• Integrating multiple connectivity solutions into vehicles adds layers of protection. From using artificial intelligence (AI) on the telematics control unit (TCU) designed to detect crashes and automate collision notification to enabling automated vehicles to detect objects around blind corners, these solutions work together to enhance safety.
• By enabling direct communication among vehicles and their surroundings, V2X helps to enhance road safety while also making entire transportation systems more efficient. Adding a V2X layer of direct connectivity enables vehicles to see what's ahead and avoid crashes.
• This AI-powered automation at the edge has the potential to save lives. Using AI models, vehicles can detect when a crash has occurred and use computer vision to understand the situation inside the car and share data with a public safety operator, including number of occupants and their condition.

Bringing connectivity to cars nearly thirty years ago was revolutionary. A concierge in case of emergency, theft tracking if a vehicle is stolen, even remote unlock when someone loses their keys. Knowing help is never out of range gives drivers and passengers a sense of safety and security – a feeling Qualcomm Technologies would like to extend to everyone on the road.

Since those early days of launching OnStar with GM, Qualcomm Technologies continues to develop connectivity solutions that keep drivers connected along their journeys, no matter where they’re headed. From using artificial intelligence (AI) on the telematics control unit (TCU) designed to detect crashes and automate collision notification to enabling automated vehicles to detect objects around blind corners, integrating multiple connectivity solutions into vehicles adds layers of protection. 

We’re committed to collaborating with automakers and the larger transportation ecosystem to continue innovating safety-rich features that help to prevent road incidents and make sure help is never out of reach.

Connectivity for all vehicles

To accelerate the automotive industry’s migration to 5G we introduced the Qualcomm A10 5G Modem-RF at CES 2026, our first 5G RedCap modem for the automotive industry. Designed to accelerate the automotive industry’s migration to 5G, the A10’s streamlined design offers breakthrough performance at a low cost. The optimized modem-RF system combines a lower complexity design with Release 17 capabilities, allowing automakers to launch advanced connectivity features across more vehicle tiers.

The Qualcomm A10 improves quality-of-services for vehicles connected to both LTE and 5G networks, designed to support mission critical services as automakers transition more vehicles to 5G.

AI on the TCU 

We also acquired Edge Impulse this year, helping us to democratize intelligence at the edge. Their comprehensive platform streamlines data collection and simplifies model training, including optimization tools and one-click deployment for AI models. Moving models to the edge creates endless opportunities for new smart connectivity use cases in automotive, such as collision notification response, theft detection or vehicle maintenance.

To show the power of intelligence running on the TCU we demonstrated audio-based crash detection and response at CES 2026. Using the AI models developed with Edge Impulse, we showed how the vehicle can use audio to detect when a crash has occurred and computer vision to understand the situation inside the car and share data with a public safety operator, including number of occupants and their condition. This AI-powered automation at the edge has the potential to save lives.

Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) 

To help prevent crashes before they happen, Qualcomm Technologies has also invested in V2X technologies. In 2025 we acquired Autotalks, providing automakers and the transportation ecosystem with auto-qualified V2X solutions that are ready to deploy globally. By enabling direct communication among vehicles and their surroundings, V2X helps to enhance road safety while also making entire transportation systems more efficient. Having this ability to communicate directly benefits advanced driver assistance systems, supplementing the vehicle’s perception systems when views are obstructed.

Imagine a highway where a stationary vehicle is blocking the lane and a large vehicle abruptly cuts out of traffic. The trailing vehicle’s cameras and radar might not detect the obstruction, creating the potential for a rear-end collision. Adding a V2X layer of direct connectivity enables vehicles to see what’s ahead and avoid crashes. 

V2X can also share safety-enhancing information from the perception system such as upcoming work zones or pedestrians crossing with other vehicles and road infrastructure – even when those vehicles are not equipped with V2X. Sharing information from unequipped vehicles to connected vehicles scales the benefits of V2X applications to millions of vehicles already on the road today.

Layering connectivity solutions helps to protect road users. Since the early days of connected cars, Qualcomm has partnered with automakers and others in the transportation industry to deliver advanced connectivity solutions and innovative use cases. We are proud to launch the new Qualcomm A10 5G Modem-RF, bringing the benefits of networked connectivity to more vehicles across the globe. We’re also incredibly excited to complement our cellular modems with direct V2X to further enhance the benefits of connectivity. We look forward to collaborating with everyone in the automotive industry to innovate new ways of keeping people safe. 

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