Qualcomm Powers Up India's Automotive Future with Local Manufacturing Boost

In a strategic push to capitalize on India's booming automotive sector, US chip giant Qualcomm is ramping up localization of its automotive module production within the country. This move not only aims to reduce dependency on traditional manufacturing hubs like Taiwan, China, and Korea but also supports its key ecosystem partners in relocating their operations to India, fostering a robust local supply chain.

Nakul Duggal, Qualcomm Technologies' group general manager for automotive, industrial, and embedded IoT, emphasized the company's substantial investments in India during an interview with PTI. "We're actively localizing module production here and partnering with our Tier 1 suppliers to facilitate their shift to Indian manufacturing," Duggal stated. As a fabless semiconductor firm, Qualcomm focuses on chip design while directing manufacturing opportunities through its supply chain partners.

With a massive workforce of about 22,000 employees in India—representing 60% of its global staff—Qualcomm has established dedicated local teams to collaborate with domestic automakers. This includes major players like Tata Motors, Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, and Hyundai, providing advanced chipsets for electric vehicles (EVs) and connected cars. The company's Snapdragon Elite platform powers telematics, infotainment, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), enabling features like real-time navigation, voice-activated controls, and semi-autonomous driving.

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Building on this momentum, Qualcomm hosted its inaugural Snapdragon Auto Day in New Delhi on July 30, 2025, in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS). The event showcased India-built technologies addressing local challenges, such as immersive cockpit solutions with 3D UI/UX, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication for smarter traffic management, and AI-driven ADAS to enhance road safety. Duggal highlighted the need for region-specific products: "Instead of importing global solutions, we're engineering for India's unique needs, giving local OEMs a competitive edge—much like China has achieved."

Looking ahead, Qualcomm anticipates deploying its Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite System-on-Chips (SoCs) in over a dozen vehicles by 2026. These chips, announced in October 2024 and shipped to customers in early 2025, integrate generative AI for connected services, allowing personalized in-vehicle experiences and predictive maintenance. The company has also deepened collaborations, including with Valeo for small mobility solutions like two- and three-wheelers in India, and Skylo Technologies for satellite-enabled automotive connectivity in partnership with BMW and Deutsche Telekom.

India's automotive landscape, blending domestic giants with global manufacturers, positions it as an emerging tech hub. Qualcomm's efforts align with the government's semiconductor incentives, potentially accelerating the launch of India's first homegrown chips by late 2025. Currently, the automotive division contributes around 10% to Qualcomm's global revenue—approximately $3.6 to $3.8 billion—with ambitions to double it to $8 billion by 2029.

This localization drive not only promises job creation and technological self-reliance but also underscores Qualcomm's vision of transforming Indian mobility into a safer, smarter, and more innovative ecosystem.

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