The technology giant from South Korea is optimistic about the self-driving car industry. A new division that will be responsible for the manufacturing of car components for other companies is being opened by the Korean conglomerate.
The press release states that such division will be focusing on on in-car infotainment systems, satellite navigation, and the manufacturing of autonomous vehicle components. This will branch out to companies that will be needing the components in building vehicles.
Apparently, Samsung wants to be the frontrunner of the movement of producing self-driving cars. This also follows its local rival, LG, which has a division gearing to produce components for car companies. Samsung has been producing and supplying smartphone components to other companies. No wonder, it has been aiming to also get into the smart car industry.
According to Engadget, self-driving cars share more than a few components with smartphones such as battery technology, GPS, mobile computing, wireless chips, touch screens and similar tech.
Smartphone business of the company has been suffering. And this move of aiming at the smart car business is just befitting. In fact, the Korean company will be replacing its mobile chief, J.K. Shin, with D.J. Koh, one of its younger executive who has a strong background in mobile research and development.
In connection, Baidu, the “Chinese Google" has already been successful in making its self-driving car hit the road. Google, on the other hand, have their smart cars already hitting the road since 2012. With Samsung beginning to adopt to the smart car industry beginning with the components, it is possible that the company will soon release its very own self-driving car. In fact, it has already launched Samsung Motors in 1994, but the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis led it to sell the division to Renault, of which it maintains 19.9% stake in the firm.
What do you think about Samsung’s move to the smart/ self-driving car industry?
