Korean technology company Samsung and German carmaker BMW jointly showcased “new approaches to creating the mobility experiences of the future with the world’s first commercialized 5G TCU (Telematics Control Unit)” at the Consumer Electronics Show 2020 (CES2020).

With years of research and development, BMW revealed that the 2021’s BMW iNEXT will serve as the “first car in the world to be equipped with 5G technology from Samsung and HARMAN.”

“As we enter the new decade of autonomous driving reality, we see great opportunities to experience many smartphone features that enable this new era of mobility as a service,” said Young Sohn, corporate president and chief strategy officer, Samsung Electronics who also serves as chair of the board for HARMAN.

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“One of the core enabling technologies is 5G. 5G’s low latency, massive density, device awareness, and super-fast download speeds enable new capabilities and experiences critical for autonomous driving systems of this decade. We look forward to our close partnership with BMW to bring Samsung’s 5G TCU technology delivered to its next generation of cars and provide the ultimate driving experience,” Sohn said.

At CES, Samsung and HARMAN also unveiled the core automotive technologies that would be essential when autonomous driving becomes mainstream in the future. These include ADAS, AI, semiconductors, memory, batteries, user interface, car audio, driver experiences, and 5G.

The companies explained that the “5G-capable TCU brings together some of these key technologies and links external networks to onboard electronics systems and provides essential, real-time information to drivers in a range of road situations. Some of the key capabilities include downloading high-resolution HD maps in real-time and V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) to deliver risk assessment and blind spot information to the driver. In addition, Samsung showcased its new conformal antenna technology, which can be integrated with the 5G-ready TCU, providing a replacement for the conventional external car shark-fin antenna, and supporting stable network connections.”

“For nearly 30 years, Samsung and HARMAN have been key partners for the BMW Group,” said Klaus Frölich, member of the board of Management of BMW AG, Development. “In 2021 we will launch the BMW iNEXT, the world’s first car with Samsung’s 5G technology, and we look forward to spreading this over the whole portfolio. Together, we can seamlessly connect the car to the world of our customers and beyond.”

Samsung also demonstrated one of the key components of connected driving, which is the V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything). In the area of safety, which is among the major concerns in autonomous driving, V2X technology is a solution anchored on 5G connectivity and is aimed at providing updates on hazards that develop “beyond the driver’s line of sight.” Aside from the notification, the technology is designed to respond accordingly to the situation.