Qualcomm bats for policy backing for connected tech, sees India driving next phase of growth

NakulNakul Duggal, Qualcomm Duggal, Qualcomm

American chipmaker Qualcomm, which is doubling down on India’s automotive market, has called for policy measures to reduce road accidents and infrastructure upgrades to fast-track the adoption of advanced vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies to make travel safer.

Nakul Duggal, group general manager, automotive and industrial & embedded IoT Qualcomm Technologies, told Moneycontrol in an interview that the company views India as not just a cost-sensitive zone but a hub of next-generation innovation, with a young population that sees cars as an extension of their identity.

“…the government can provide some regulation, some direction around infrastructure, and if that allows technology like V2X to get adopted faster, I think that would probably be one very deliberate measure that can be taken that is very India specific," Duggal said to a question on what would the company expect on the policy front.

India-specific regulations could enable faster scaling of connected vehicle technologies like V2X and ADAS, Duggal said, adding Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Ride Flex system on chip (SoC) and solutions are likely to be very well suited for this kind of application.

"I agree with many people who talk about ADAS and the complexity of traffic patterns in India. The question is: how do you mandate something like this in a way that scales? Another important aspect is information safety, the ability for the environment to detect a hazard, an imminent collision, or any risky situation, and then communicate that information to the infotainment system," he added.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are electronic technologies designed to enhance vehicle safety. V2X is a wireless communication technology that allows vehicles to exchange information with other vehicles, infrastructure, and even pedestrians. It aims to improve road safety and traffic efficiency.

The company is seeing increasing momentum in India’s automotive sector, especially with electric vehicles (EVs) gaining traction and young consumers seeking high-tech features in their first cars, the Qualcomm executive said.

“India has a vibrant and competitive ecosystem across two-wheelers and four-wheelers. The demand is being led by a younger demographic that wants their car to be an extension of their digital identity,” he said. “As EVs become more affordable and infrastructure improves, the adoption curve will steepen. Our technologies are well-positioned to support this transition.”

Qualcomm, which generates about $3.9 billion annually from its automotive segment, aims to double that to $8 billion by FY29. Duggal pointed to India’s scale, producing roughly four million cars a year, as a key factor in Qualcomm’s long-term automotive strategy.

India not just cost-sensitive but innovation-hungry

While India has often been viewed as a price-sensitive market, Qualcomm believes it is increasingly becoming a market for innovation and differentiation.

“Automakers here aren’t just looking to reduce cost. They want to deliver new experiences. The digital cockpit, personalisation, and software-defined vehicles are becoming essential in the consumer journey," he said.

The company is working closely with Indian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), helping them localise innovation while tapping into global platforms.

“Many Indian OEMs are proactively engaging with us, visiting our teams in San Diego, and collaborating on next-gen features. They’re not just catching up—they’re pushing the boundaries,” Duggal said.

China vs India

On China’s rapid EV-led transformation, Duggal said the country had a top-down national mandate that drove the change. India’s journey is evolving through partnerships and ecosystem-building.

“China went digital-first years ago. That helped accelerate its auto transition. India is different but not necessarily slower. Our approach here is to support local OEMs through a hybrid model— global technology paired with local customisation,” he said.

The company is seeing traction in the two-wheeler EV segment as well, he said, citing Royal Enfield as a case study of transformation. “They wanted to reimagine how they connect with customers—and we’re helping them build digital and SaaS platforms that go beyond just hardware,” he said.

On Tesla’s entry into India, the executive was optimistic, “Tesla is already a customer. and buy a variety of different technologies from us. So we welcome supporting them in India. It's good for the market.”

Asked about competition, especially from players like MediaTek, he said, “Competition is expected. We just have to be better, faster, more flexible, and more innovative. What we announced today took just 30 days from concept to launch. That’s the kind of pace we want to set.”