Volkswagen takes Audi, Porsche, Bentley and others into Avanci 5G patent pool
Automaker is latest to sign up to Avanci’s 5G Vehicle programme | All Volkswagen brands will have access to patented technologies essential for 5G connectivity | Patent pool now claims 25 car brands as members, including GM, BMW and Hyundai.
Volkswagen is the latest car manufacturer to join Avanci’s 5G Vehicle programme, expanding its existing relationship with the patent license provider.
All Volkswagen brands, including Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche, Skoda and VW Truck & Bus, will have access to 5G, 4G, 3G and 2G essential patents held by Avanci 5G Vehicle licensors under the deal, which was announced yesterday (February 20).
Through Avanci’s 5G programme, automakers negotiate one license agreement that covers patents from over 60 licensors, for use in their 5G connected vehicles.
These licensors include Huawei, Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung, and Sony, and the deal includes any other patent holders that join up in the future.
Avanci launched its 5G connected vehicle licensing programme in August 2023. It covers patented technologies essential for 5G, 4G, 3G and 2G connectivity, including cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) which enables vehicles to communicate with other vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians and transport infrastructure.
President of Avanci Vehicle, Laurie Fitzgerald, said: “With the addition of the Volkswagen Group brands, Avanci 5G Vehicle now includes more than 25 automotive brands and over 60 licensors as participants in our global one-stop-solution.”
Transitioning technology
Volkswagen has been an Avanci licensee since 2019, and struck a deal with the company in March 2022 that covered 4G standard-essential patents.
Almost 100 automotive brands participate in the 4G programme, which Avanci says covers over 150 million connected vehicles.
Roger Lanctot, director, automotive connected mobility at TechInsights, said at the time that Avanci launched its 5G programme that the transition from 4G to 5G technology would be “unlike any prior wireless changeover”.
“For the first time, automakers are facing an industry transformation touching all aspects of vehicle development and sales, and car ownership,” said Lanctot.
“TechInsights forecasts that the share of 5G connected vehicles will grow to over 50% of new vehicle production in five years’ time.”
The deal with Volkswagen follows an announcement last week (February 13) that General Motors had struck a 5G licensing agreement with Avanci.
Other 5G licensees include BMW, Mini, Rolls Royce, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz.
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