Samsung is branching out into the automotive industry

On the upside, self-driving cars share more than a few components with smartphones, so it makes sense that Samsung’s know-how would transfer across.

Just as Samsung uses its own chips in many of its flagship smartphones, it could potentially use in-house automotive components in a custom-built vehicle.

Reuters says Samsung is looking for new opportunities as its smartphone business has weakened. “We will focus on infotainment systems and self-driving cars in the early stage and then seek business synergies with other Samsung companies”.

Park will coordinate participation of the group’s affiliates such as battery maker Samsung SDI and software services provider Samsung SDS. “Through the PSCP strategic partnership with Samsung, Audi will utilize Samsung’s high speed memory products to provide the best user experience to our customers”, Ricky Hudi, Executive Vice President Electronic Development at Audi, said in a statement.

It also has a components manufacturing unit that builds chips and displays, as well as a consumer electronics outfit that works on TVs and home appliances. But it will be intriguing to see how quickly the company could deliver parts that are used and needed across the automotive industry.

The South Korean tech giant’s timing could be about right.

Also, Samsung enters a market led by strong competitors.

Samsung confirmed today its interest in playing a part in the rapidly developing self-driving auto industry.

This report follows Reuters unearthing in late October that two-thirds of Samsung’s combined 1,804 patent filings since 2010 were specifically geared toward electric vehicles and electric parts for cars.

Elon Musk’s Tesla is unquestionably the current king of the hill in the electric auto / smart car industry, but the competition is starting to heat up as major players such as Mercedes, BMW, Google and Apple are continuing to make progress on their EV and driverless vehicle initiatives.