• by Les Luchter , February 23, 2022

As 4G gives way to 5G on mobile phones, automakers are following suit.

Audi of America has now partnered with Verizon to bring 5G connectivity to its vehicles, starting with select models in the 2024 model year. Verizon has been providing 4G to Audi since 2015.

“Audi drivers will be among the first in the world to experience a new generation of automobiles, one in which their car is both a 5G mobile device and a vehicle,” said Tami Erwin, CEO of Verizon Business.

Audi’s agreement with Verizon follows General Motors’ August deal with AT&T to bring 5G connectivity to millions of vehicles starting in 2023. AT&T has been providing 4G to GM since 2014.

T-Mobile has yet to announce a 5G auto partnership.

Ironically, even as automakers and mobile carriers announce 5G plans, the car industry is mostly concerned about transitioning out of 3G to 4G. With the three major carriers all announcing plans to shut down 3G by year’s end, vehicle marketers have been working to assure that connected systems like emergency assistance, vehicle location and diagnostics keep on working.

For example, as explained by Forbes, Audi is using a new Mojio product called Motion to enable upgrades to 300,000 vehicle built between 2013 and 2018. Motion runs on T-Mobile’s 4G network

Audi’s new agreement with Verizon for embedded 5G Ultra Wideband connectivity, meanwhile, wlll provide “advanced driving features, connected services, and blazing-fast in-car Wi-Fi and infotainment,” the automaker said.

Capabilities will include the ability to receive firmware and software upgrades over the air; infotainment and navigation systems enhanced with HD/3D mapping and video, cloud-based user profiles and retail capabilities; and joint development of Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology. The latter will allow vehicles to respond to other vehicles and infrastructure for low-latency alerts and messages -- and to provide a view of vehicle environments beyond what’s observed by drivers, vehicle cameras and radar systems.