LG Electronics is supplying V2X (Vehicle to Everything) platforms for 2019 Volkswagen Golf and Passat. Realistically, this is LG electronics’ first contract since entering markets for connected cars. It has been leading V2X standards based on LTE and it is predicted that this contract will help LG Electronics’ connected car business to grow.
According to an industry on the 19th, LG Electronics’ VC (Vehicle Component) Business Headquarters has agreed to supply V2X platform for 2019 Volkswagen Golf and Passat.
Communication module that implements V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) communication is the most important part of V2X. Beside of V2V communication, V2X also supports LTE communication, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections for telematics service.
LG Electronics’ VC Headquarters is in charge of designing hardware of V2X platforms that will be supplied to Volkswagen. Cohda Wireless will be in charge of protocol stack to implement WAVE (Wireless Access for Vehicular Environments). Products from NXP, which has established a long relationship with Volkswagen, will be used for communication chips.
LG Electronics was recognized for its abilities to design a system that implements actual communication through combination of each component. It is predicted that Golf and Passat that are applied with LG Electronics’ V2X technology will be released first in the U.S.
The U.S. is a country where legalization of laws regarding V2X takes place the fastest. It is important not to postpone any application of V2X technologies onto mass-production if a business is targeting this market. NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) submitted a draft that will require V2V communication for sedans and small trucks earlier this year.
“LG Electronics is going to supply V2X system for Volkswagen Golf and Passat that will be mass-produced in 2019.” said a representative for this industry. “This is a great achievement as it is a project that will supply products for vehicles that will actually be mass-produced.”
LG Electronics has been keeping a close relationship with Volkswagen. In July of this year, it exchanged a MOU with Volkswagen regarding co-R&D of ‘Crossover Platform’ at Volkswagen Headquarters in Germany. It is an extensive project that focuses not only on connected cars but also attempts to connect household appliances (Smart Home) and vehicles. This contract is also seen as an extension of such cooperation between two companies.
V2X is a field that LG Electronics, which is expanding its automotive electronic equipment and infotainment businesses, is devoting into recently. ‘LTE-based V2V communication technology’ that has led development was once recognized as global standards. If LG Electronics carries out mass-production projects with a power automotive company like Volkswagen, it is expected that its position in related markets will solidify even more.
“Due to NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement), we cannot confirm any detailed information such as information regarding our partners and contracts and plans about release dates of products.” said a representative for LG Electronics.
Staff Reporter Song, Junyoung | songjy@etnews.com