It's an alliance that could well redraw the contours of millions of motorists' journeys. Chinese technology giant OPPO, known for its smartphones, and German automotive giant Volkswagen formalized a major global agreement yesterday. The purpose of this marriage of convenience and technology lies in OPPO's licensing of its valuable patents, particularly in 5G, to equip Volkswagen Group vehicles.
Far from being a simple contract, this announcement is a symptom of an underlying trend. Once a purely mechanical product, the car is completing its transformation to become a true connected object, a smartphone on four wheels.
When tech and the automobile go hand in hand
For Volkswagen, the stakes are high. By securing access to OPPO's patent portfolio, the manufacturer is opening a royal road to integrating the most advanced connectivity technologies into its global range. We're no longer just talking about GPS or Bluetooth, but about advanced connectivity that improves user experiences. It can also help in the deployment of real-time updates and smarter safety and driver assistance systems.
"The partnership with OPPO is an example of effective, respectful, and business-oriented collaboration," explains Robin Cefai, head of intellectual property licensing at Volkswagen, emphasizing the group's desire to "find sustainable solutions for all parties."
For OPPO, this pact marks the firm's desire to bring cellular technologies beyond smartphones. This is the first-ever agreement of this type signed by the brand with a player in the automotive world. The Chinese company now ranks eighth in the world for the strength of its 5G patent portfolio. It had filed 113,000 patent applications and held more than 62,000 granted patents worldwide as of March 2025.
"We are delighted to collaborate with Volkswagen," said Vincent Lin, head of patent licensing at OPPO. "This partnership is further recognition of our leadership in cellular technology innovation.".
What's new for drivers?
Concretely, for the driver of tomorrow, this infusion of technology promises a reinvented on-board experience. This type of agreement can help develop seamless video streaming for passengers, navigation that accurately anticipates traffic hazards, or even direct communications between vehicles to prevent hazards.
Ultimately, this alliance between a tech titan and a pillar of the automotive industry is not anecdotal. It perfectly illustrates the inevitable convergence of industries and confirms that the next big innovation for our cars may not be under the hood, but in the chip that connects it to the world. This is what Renault feared when it took on Oppo and its Reno range of smartphones.
0 Comments