Samsung Unveils Latest 5G Telematics Control Unit (TCU) Technology and BMW Partnership at CES 2020

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 13 January 2020 – At CES 2020, Samsung joined BMW to showcase new approaches to creating the mobility experiences of the future with the world’s first commercialised 5G TCU (Telematics Control Unit).

BMW announced that 2021’s BMW iNEXT will be the first car in the world to be equipped with 5G technology from Samsung and HARMAN. The two companies have long served as a development partner to the BMW Group, and will continue helping automotive manufacturers develop vital innovations to serve the ever-changing needs of the rapidly evolving automotive market.

“As we enter the new decade of autonomous driving reality, we see great opportunities to experience many smart phone features that enable this new era of mobility as a service,” said Young Sohn, Corporate President and Chief Strategy Officer for Samsung Electronics and Chairman of the Board for HARMAN. “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.”

“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 and HARMAN showcased core automotive technologies including: ADAS, AI, semiconductors, memory, batteries, user interface, car audio, driver experiences, and 5G. 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.