BlackBerry’s QNX business unit has announced that its foundational software will be integrated into BMW Group’s Neue Klasse platform, forming the safety-critical core of BMW’s next-generation software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
The deployment builds on a multi-year strategic agreement signed in 2021, under which QNX and BMW collaborated on SAE Level 2/2+ driver assistance systems. With Neue Klasse, that partnership enters a new phase: QNX software is now embedded at the heart of BMW’s future vehicle architecture.
🧠 Neue Klasse: A Digital Nervous System #
BMW’s Neue Klasse platform introduces a radically new vehicle architecture centered around a digital nervous system, often described as a vehicle “super brain.”
This system is composed of four high-performance computing units, each responsible for a critical vehicle domain:
- Assisted and automated driving
- Infotainment and user experience
- Dynamic driving control
- Core vehicle and body functions
These centralized computers unify previously fragmented electronic control units (ECUs), enabling BMW to decouple hardware and software while significantly increasing overall system performance.
🛡️ QNX as the Safety-Critical Foundation #
At the core of this architecture sits the QNX Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) and QNX virtualization technology. Together, they provide:
- Deterministic real-time performance
- Secure domain isolation across mixed-criticality workloads
- Fault tolerance for safety-critical vehicle functions
QNX software is already deployed in more than 275 million vehicles worldwide and is used by 24 of the top 25 electric vehicle manufacturers, making it one of the most widely trusted operating systems in the automotive industry.
For Neue Klasse, QNX serves as the foundational safety layer that allows BMW to consolidate multiple vehicle domains onto shared compute platforms without compromising functional safety.
🚗 Enabling BMW’s Software-Defined Vision #
According to BMW, the four central computing units in Neue Klasse deliver up to 20× more processing performance compared to previous generations. This performance leap enables:
- Rapid integration of AI-driven features
- Over-the-air (OTA) software updates at scale
- Advanced driver assistance and safety systems
- Long-term vehicle feature evolution after purchase
Chris Salzmann, Vice President of Software Platform (Safe-POSIX & RTOS) at BMW Group, emphasized that trusted partners are essential to this transition. QNX’s long-standing expertise in safety-certified software allows BMW to scale innovations across its global product lineup while maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability.
🏗️ A Platform for Long-Term Innovation #
For QNX, the Neue Klasse integration reinforces its role as a cornerstone of the SDV era. QNX foundational software supports a wide range of automotive architectures, including:
- Digital cockpits
- Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
- Infotainment platforms
- Domain and zone controllers
By providing a stable, safety-certified base, QNX enables automakers to bring new features to market faster and at lower cost, while managing the growing complexity of modern vehicles.
🔍 Industry Impact #
The BMW Neue Klasse announcement highlights a broader industry trend: automakers are moving away from hardware-defined vehicles toward software-centric platforms that evolve continuously over time.
Trusted by leading OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers—including BMW, Bosch, Continental, Geely, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo—QNX continues to position itself as a key enabler of this transformation.
As vehicles increasingly resemble rolling computers, QNX’s role as an “invisible yet essential” technology layer is becoming central to how next-generation mobility is designed, deployed, and scaled.