Yahoo Autos G-Funk Era: Audi to Launch 5G Connectivity in 2020
As part of a joint venture with Chinese technology concern Huawei, Audi will roll out 5G-connected vehicles starting in 2020, which will enable the four-ringed brand’s cars to integrate V2X signals, or vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, into their semi-autonomous functions.
Before you get we carried away, however, note that so far, the rollout date only pertains to China. According to a report in the U.K. publication Auto Express, the United States and Europe will come later. Much of that has to do with the enthusiasm with which V2X communication have been embraced in China. The government is currently running trials in Jiangsu Province but is looking at an aggressive nationwide rollout. By 2020, it reportedly wants 90 percent of China’s roads, cities, and highways covered.
Naturally, where Audi goes, Volkswagen tends to follow quickly. Porsche won’t want to be left out, and high-luxury customers from Bentley will surely want V2X-enabled Bentaygas and Flying Spurs. In short, we’d expect to see the tech roll out across the Volkswagen Group’s Chinese offerings in relatively short order, although we wouldn’t be surprised to see Bugatti wait for the Chiron’s successor. After all, even at the end of its run, the Veyron still started with an actual metal ignition key.
Qualcomm Has Big Plans for Cellular Connections between Future Cars
Bye Bye, EZ-Pass: Audi to Offer Integrated Toll-Paying Module
The V2X system will, according to a Huawei spokesperson quoted by AutoExpress, “read crossings and [traffic] lights, slowing your car progressively. You can get additional help to adjust speeds for red lights. It will offer assisted driving.” Of course, interfacing with infrastructure is but one piece of V2X. The other part is its ability to converse with other vehicles, a function that will become more useful as more enabled vehicles hit the road. It’ll be interesting to look at where China is with the technology by 2025 and perhaps very instructive to see just how far along America is in that same time frame.
You Might Also Like
