The American chipmaker Qualcomm will acquire an Israeli startup whose technology enhances road safety.
Autotalks designs chipsets – the “brain” of a smart vehicle that communicates with all of its other components – with the intention of preventing automobile collisions.
The chipsets are based on sensor technology, which, according to the startup, enables vehicles to “see” around corners and through obstacles within a one-mile radius to detect dangers in advance.
Qualcomm is acquiring Autotalks for an undisclosed amount, with estimates from the Hebrew press placing the price between $350 million and $400 million.
American company Qualcomm has acquired the developer of the Smart car safety system.
The US company announced that it will incorporate Autotalks’ technology into its suite of cloud-based automotive industry platforms. Customers of Qualcomm include Volkswagen, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, and Honda.
In 2022, global sales of electric vehicles increased by approximately 60 percent, surpassing 10 million for the first time despite a general decline in auto sales in 2021. The rising demand for electric vehicles has increased the need for computer processors to fuel the advanced technology found in these vehicles.
Over the past decade, Qualcomm has invested in a number of Israeli enterprises. Cellwize Wireless Technologies, which automates mobile networks, was acquired in 2022 for an undisclosed quantity.
It also acquired Wilocity, a developer of wireless chipsets, for $300 million in 2014 and DesignArt Networks, a developer of technology that increases the mobile capacity of cellular networks, for $150 million in 2012.
Autotalks’s CEO, Hagai Zyss, stated that the company’s V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communication solutions are intended to revolutionize safety in the transportation and automotive industries.
“We are confident that by combining our knowledge and expertise, we will not only produce robust V2X products that will improve transportation efficiency and safety for road users, but also accelerate the widespread adoption of V2X. Together with Qualcomm, we look forward to serving the automotive industry and bringing the finest technologies to market.”