BMW, Stellantis and Geely Betting on Satellites to Ensure Uninterrupted Connectivity

•    Why are BMW, Stellantis and Geely interested in satellites? For a simple reason.

Even as 5G continues to expand across the world, its coverage remains uneven — particularly in rural and mountainous regions. For automakers, “dead zones” are not just an irritant: they directly threaten the deployment of autonomous driving systems and connected features that depend on a constant data stream.

According to ABI Research, sales of vehicles equipped with satellite connectivity are expected to reach 30 million units by 2034, with an average annual growth of 32 percent starting in 2027.

BMW leads the way towards non-terrestrial connectivity
At BMW, satellite connectivity is seen as the next frontier of connected mobility. According to Olaf Eckart, head of R&D cooperations, a car without a connection can no longer function effectively. Satellites will make it possible to fill the gaps not covered by terrestrial networks, ensuring continuous access to navigation, real-time updates and online services via BMW ConnectedDrive.

Olaf Eckart also emphasizes that connectivity is crucial for the manufacturer's internal operations: BMW maintains a digital twin of each of its vehicles to allow for remote diagnostics, updates and performance analysis.

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