BlackBerry’s QNX software now being used in 120 million cars
BlackBerry Ltd.’s technology may not be in as many pockets these days, but it is parked in millions of garages.
The smartphone-turned-software company’s QNX software is used in 120 million cars on the road today, BlackBerry announced Wednesday at the TU-Automotive Detroit conference. That’s double the 60-million figure it touted for the past three years as brands including Audi, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Toyota sign up to use software for infotainment systems, acoustics and dashboard functions.
“That figure has doubled as the world’s leading automakers, their tier one suppliers, and chip manufacturers have put their trust in BlackBerry,” chief executive John Chen said in a statement. “As cars are increasingly driven by software, our customers and partners rely on BlackBerry QNX technologies to provide them with the safetycertified and secure technology platform on which the future of the automotive industry is being built.”
BlackBerry said that Strategy Analytics, a research and industry analyst firm, verified the 120 million number. The verification was based on the number of QNX products shipped and the number of cars that contain QNX products and technology.
In-car software has become one of BlackBerry’s key business units after it shed its smartphone business to focus on software for enterprises, vehicles and the Internet of things. It said the vast majority of QNX software products are licensed on a per-unit royalty basis.
Investors have reacted positively to the firm’s foray into the automotive market, although its revenue is far below what it was in its heyday.