Audi of America, Verizon to bring 5G to Vehicle Line

Verizon is also linking with all three major cloud providers.

Verizon and Audi of America today announced an agreement to bring 5G connectivity to the automaker’s U.S. lineup, expected to begin with some models for the 2024 model year. (AutoInformed: GM and AT&T Set Auto Connectivity Goal at 5G)

The deal brings embedded 5G Ultra-Wideband connectivity into Audi vehicles and provides the speed and telecommunication architecture necessary for “highly personalized and augmented mobile services, new driver-assistance features, and connectivity-enabled innovations for the automated future of driving.”

Verizon is also linking with all three major cloud providers for mobile edge compute services, which can be used to develop innovative safety and autonomous driving features. Mobile edge computing with 5G connectivity provides the low latency needed for urgent C-V2X communications, such as the ability for vehicles to communicate with other vehicles, connected infrastructure, and devices in the environment around them in near real-time.

The embedded technology will allow a vehicle to connect to the Verizon 5G Ultra-Wideband network for advanced driving features, connected services, and fast in-car Wi-Fi and infotainment.

What 5G Means

• Passengers will be able to download or stream entertainment at higher speeds and better quality than before.
• Vehicles will be able to receive firmware and software upgrades over the air – much like a mobile phone – to help ensure in-vehicle technology remains current and capable.
• Infotainment and navigation systems can be enhanced with HD/3D mapping and video, cloud-based user profiles, and mobile retail capabilities.

Cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology, which Audi and Verizon are developing for customers, designed to allow vehicles to respond to other vehicles and infrastructure around them for low-latency alerts and messages. The technology will be crucial to development of automated vehicles and safety advancements, such as providing a fuller view of vehicle environments, beyond what drivers, vehicle cameras and radar systems can observe.

“Audi was the first automaker to bring in-vehicle Wi-Fi to customers as well as 4G LTE connectivity in the 2015 A3, and we will be among the first to bring the next generation of connectivity to our customers in the U.S.,” claimed Filip Brabec, senior VP, Product Planning, Audi of America. “We value our partnership with Verizon and their eagerness to push the boundaries of what’s possible as cars continue to become even more connected.”