New York, Jan 8, 2026, 15:04 EST — Regular session
- QUALCOMM Incorporated shares up about 1.3% in afternoon trade, bucking a broader slide in chip ETFs
- Volkswagen says Qualcomm is set to be the primary tech provider for a new “software-defined vehicle” platform, with supplies starting in 2027
- Investors are also weighing a report that Qualcomm is in talks with Samsung on two-nanometre chip manufacturing
QUALCOMM Incorporated shares rose 1.3% on Thursday after Volkswagen said it signed a letter of intent that could make the U.S. chip designer a core supplier for the carmaker’s next software platform. The stock was up at $182.54, after trading between $176.51 and $184.29, even as the Nasdaq-leaning QQQ fell 0.8% and the iShares Semiconductor ETF slid about 1.8%.
The Volkswagen tie-up lands as Qualcomm tries to prove it can grow beyond smartphones, where demand still swings with handset launches and upgrade cycles. Auto “wins” can lock in business for years, and traders tend to treat new design slots as a longer-dated signal.
Volkswagen said Qualcomm Technologies would be the primary tech provider for a “zonal” software-defined vehicle architecture built with its Rivian venture, using Snapdragon Digital Chassis chips for infotainment — the in-car screens and connected services — starting in 2027. Volkswagen procurement executive Karsten Schnake said infotainment and driver assistance “account for a significantly higher share of vehicle value.” Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen and Rivian are running winter tests on the platform, Reuters reported, with $1 billion of Volkswagen investment tied to technology milestones due this year. The first cars using the software are due in 2027, starting with the electric ID.Every1, part of Volkswagen’s push to catch up with rivals such as BYD and Tesla, the report said.
Separate from the auto news, Qualcomm is in talks with Samsung Electronics over contract manufacturing of two-nanometre chips, Chief Executive Cristiano Amon was quoted as saying by the Korea Economic Daily, according to a Reuters report on Wednesday. Qualcomm was not immediately available for comment and Samsung said it did not discuss specific customers, Reuters said.
But the Volkswagen agreement is a letter of intent, not a signed supply contract, and the revenue would sit years out. Any delay in Volkswagen’s software schedule, or a reset in chip pricing and content, could cool enthusiasm quickly.
Next up is Qualcomm’s fiscal first-quarter earnings call on Feb. 4, when investors will look for updates on automotive demand, handset trends and any shift in foundry plans. The conference call is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. ET.
