Leapmotor picks QNX software for D19 premium EV SUV

Leapmotor has selected QNX software for its D19 premium electric SUV, which enters mass production this month.

The D19 uses a central controller based on QNX Software Development Platform 8.0 and QNX Hypervisor for Safety 8.0. According to QNX, the vehicle combines digital cockpit, advanced driver assistance and connectivity functions in a single safety-certified system.

The move reflects the car industry's broader shift towards centralised vehicle computing, as carmakers replace multiple electronic control units with fewer, more powerful computers. The approach is intended to reduce hardware complexity and support software updates throughout a vehicle's life.

In the D19, Leapmotor plans to support up to eight high-resolution displays for infotainment, the instrument cluster and rear-seat entertainment. The system also supports up to 24 audio channels and uses a service-oriented software architecture with more than 500 modules.

It also includes remote software updates, diagnostics and control. For driver assistance, the platform can process data from up to 13 camera streams, along with lidar, radar and ultrasonic sensors.

Central controller

QNX said its software is designed to let different operating systems and applications run on the same hardware while keeping critical functions isolated from less critical ones. In practice, that allows a carmaker to place safety-related software alongside Linux- or Android-based systems on the same controller.

The architecture supports deterministic scheduling and spatial and temporal isolation, features commonly used in automotive systems that require predictable performance. Carmakers have increasingly focused on those characteristics as they add more software functions to vehicles and combine previously separate domains.

For Leapmotor, the D19 extends a relationship with QNX that began in 2021, when the Chinese carmaker used the software in its C11 mid-size electric crossover. QNX software has since been adopted in Leapmotor's B-series models as the company expands its line-up.

Founded in 2015 and based in Hangzhou, Leapmotor develops electric vehicles as well as assisted driving systems, battery systems and vehicle networking technology. It says it designs and manufactures a significant share of its core components in-house.

The manufacturer's range now spans A, B, C and D series vehicles, covering sedans, SUVs and multi-purpose vehicles. It sells both battery electric and extended-range models.

Software push

The selection also highlights the role of embedded software suppliers in competition among electric vehicle makers, especially in China, where brands are trying to differentiate themselves through in-car software and assisted driving features as much as through hardware design.

QNX, part of BlackBerry, supplies operating systems and related software for automotive, industrial and other embedded applications. It says its software is deployed in more than 275 million vehicles worldwide and is used by several global carmakers and suppliers.

Grant Courville, Senior Vice President, Products and Strategy at QNX, said the D19 reflected a wider move towards integrated vehicle computing. "Leapmotor continues to push the boundaries of intelligent electric vehicle mobility, and we are proud to provide the software foundation that enables them to deliver on their vision," he said. "With our QNX 8 Hypervisor for Safety, our QNX 8 OS and other QNX foundational software, Leapmotor and other automakers can consolidate cockpit and ADAS into a centralized controller, scale performance across many cores, and maintain safety, security and performance to deliver an unparalleled in‐vehicle experience."

Hongtao Zhou, Senior Vice President at Leapmotor, linked the software choice to the company's broader in-car technology plans. "Intelligence is reshaping the automotive industry, and software is now the central driving force of the in-car experience for passengers and drivers alike," he said. "With QNX at the core of the D19's central controller, we can offer customers a premium experience that combines advanced safety, immersive infotainment, and continuous innovation through seamless over‐the‐air updates as technology evolves."