With the global automotive industry now firmly pivoted towards electrification and software-defined vehicles, BMW Group has made a strong commitment to connected technologies to boost safety, vehicle drive, infotainment functionality and user experience – and to offer a “second-to-none” connected vehicle service, it has announced a collaboration with Verizon Business and KDDI.
With its four brands, BMW, Mini, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group claims to be the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles, as well as premium financial services. The firm’s production network comprises over 30 sites worldwide, and it has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
The deal will see Verizon provide 5G standalone and LTE connectivity directly to BMW Group vehicles in the US, delivering exclusive telematics support for the BMW Connected Drive system in newly manufactured vehicles.
Another key consequence is that Verizon will now provide telematics connectivity for new BMW, Mini and other BMW Group vehicles manufactured for the US market. This is intended to deliver cellular connectivity directly to BMW Group vehicles, enabling BMW Connected Drive and other digital infotainment, remote, app and telematics services.
These vehicles are the first to be connected to Verizon’s nationwide 5G Standalone for Connected Vehicles offering using its 5G core and 3GPP Release 16 industry standards for 5G standalone.
The deal also stems from Verizon’s long-standing relationship with KDDI, which provides internet of things (IoT) services through its proprietary Global Communications Platform to BMW Group and global connected services to original equipment manufacturers in various other industries.
KDDI’s platform is designed to enable a programmable connected experience for BMW Group, giving the automaker control of the connectivity and data packets flowing through Verizon’s 5G network. The service is available for all newly manufactured BMW Group vehicles in the US.
Commenting on the deal, Verizon Business CEO Kyle Malady said: “Verizon is committed to delivering seamless connectivity for customers. Our collaboration with BMW Group and KDDI prioritises innovation and capability to advance the connected experience for drivers across the US.”
Satoshi Oishi, president and CEO at KDDI America Inc, said: “At KDDI, we are honoured to support BMW Group’s next-generation connected vehicle services with our Global Communications Platform. With over two decades of experience in connected car telecommunications, we understand the critical importance of performance and reliability. Together with BMW Group and Verizon, we are committed to delivering an exceptional connected driving experience to customers across North America.”
In 2025, BMW Group launched an automated driving (AD) system for its iX3 car, the first production vehicle in its Neue Klasse line. The AD system is built on Snapdragon Ride system-on-chips (SoCs) from Qualcomm Technologies, using a Snapdragon Ride AD software stack developed by both companies. It supports AD levels ranging from entry-level New Car Assessment Program to Level 2+ highway and urban navigation on autopilot capabilities.
In addition, the ADAS system in the BMW iX3 integrates automotive-grade SoCs for centralised sensor data processing, advanced computer vision modules for perception, and a Snapdragon Ride AD software stack including drive policy and safety guardrails.
Capabilities supported include contextual lane change and overtaking, which initiates manoeuvres based on subtle driver cues such as mirror glances or steering nudges; active lane change and highway assistant offering hands-free driving on approved road networks; ecosystem-provided artificial intelligence-powered slot detection for parking assistance; and camera-based in-cabin monitoring.
