ZF ProAI and Snapdragon Ride Form Flexible Foundation for Next-Generation ADAS Systems

ZF and Qualcomm collaborate to provide a scalable ADAS solution powered by ZF ProAI supercomputer and Snapdragon Ride Platform.

(IN BRIEF) ZF and Qualcomm Technologies have deepened their collaboration to deliver a scalable, open ADAS compute platform combining ZF’s ProAI supercomputer with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Ride™ technology. The joint solution supports a wide range of vehicle architectures and automation levels, enabling automakers to deploy modular, software-defined driver assistance systems with greater flexibility and faster time-to-market. With integrated perception, high-performance AI computing, and a comprehensive development toolchain, the platform is designed to support both advanced ADAS functions and future mixed-criticality workloads spanning driver assistance and infotainment.

(PRESS RELEASE) FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, 6-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — ZF and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. have announced an expanded technology collaboration aimed at delivering a highly flexible and scalable advanced driver assistance system platform for the next generation of software-defined vehicles. By combining Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Ride™ compute architecture with ZF’s ProAI automotive supercomputer, the companies are offering automakers an open ADAS foundation capable of supporting a broad spectrum of vehicle classes and automated driving levels.

At the core of the collaboration is an integrated compute solution that brings together high-performance AI processing, perception, and decision-making within a single, adaptable platform. ZF’s ProAI system incorporates Snapdragon Ride™ Pilot and Vision software stacks, enabling faster deployment of ADAS functions while giving manufacturers the option to configure systems ranging from regulatory safety features through to Level 3 automated driving capabilities.

Designed to support multiple electronic architectures, the ProAI platform can operate as a domain controller, zonal controller, or centralized vehicle computer. Its open architecture allows the integration of third-party software alongside ZF’s own ADAS portfolio, offering automakers greater freedom to tailor functionality to brand-specific requirements. The highest-performance ProAI configurations are capable of delivering more than 1,500 TOPS of computing power, supporting end-to-end AI models that combine sensor fusion, perception, and control logic.

The collaboration also builds on ZF’s modular ADAS software offering, which includes approximately 25 safety, comfort, and parking functions. These range from basic driver assistance features to advanced capabilities such as hands-off navigation on autopilot. Vehicle manufacturers can select and scale functions individually or deploy them as stand-alone software products, aligning system complexity with vehicle positioning and market needs.

Snapdragon Ride™ Pilot provides the perception and safety stack underpinning the platform. Using camera-based AI perception, the system supports object detection, lane and traffic sign recognition, parking assistance, driver monitoring, and real-time mapping. The architecture scales from single-camera setups to full surround-sensing configurations, combining bird’s-eye-view processing, fisheye camera optimization, and radar integration to improve responsiveness and performance in complex driving environments. The solution has already been validated in regulatory deployments across more than 60 countries.

A key element of the joint offering is Qualcomm Technologies’ open integration framework, which enables dynamic allocation of compute resources across heterogeneous electronic control units. The modular design supports interoperability between ADAS and infotainment systems, allowing mixed-criticality workloads to coexist on shared hardware. This approach also enables over-the-air software updates and feature upgrades throughout the vehicle lifecycle.

To accelerate development timelines, the collaboration is supported by an extensive toolchain that includes simulation environments, software libraries, and APIs. These tools allow automakers and engineering teams to prototype, test, and validate ADAS and infotainment functions more efficiently, helping to reduce complexity and speed time-to-market while maintaining flexibility as vehicle platforms evolve.

Together, ZF and Qualcomm Technologies aim to deliver a future-proof ADAS compute platform that supports the rapid advancement of automated driving, enhances vehicle safety, and aligns with the growing industry shift toward software-defined architectures.

About ZF

ZF is a global technology company supplying advanced mobility products and systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology. Its comprehensive product range is primarily aimed at vehicle manufacturers, mobility providers and start-up companies in the fields of transportation and mobility. ZF electrifies a wide range of vehicle types. With its products, the company contributes to reducing emissions, protecting the climate as well as enhancing safe mobility. Alongside the automotive sector – passenger cars and commercial vehicles – ZF also serves market segments such as construction and agricultural machinery, wind power, marine propulsion, rail drives and test systems.

With some 161,600 employees worldwide, ZF reported sales of €41.4 billion in fiscal 2024. The company operates 161 production locations in 30 countries.

For further press information and photos, please visit: www.zf.com

About Qualcomm

Qualcomm is enabling a world where everyone and everything can be intelligently connected. Our one technology roadmap allows us to efficiently scale the technologies that launched the mobile revolution – including advanced connectivity, high-performance, low-power compute, on-device intelligence and more – to the next generation of connected smart devices across industries. Innovations from Qualcomm and our family of Snapdragon platforms will help enable cloud-edge convergence, transform industries, accelerate the digital economy, and revolutionize how we experience the world, for the greater good.

Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business. Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patented technologies are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated.

Media Contact:

Mirko Gutemann
Corporate R&D, ADAS/AD Technology,
Email: mirko.gutemann@zf.com

SOURCE: ZF