Micron Technology struck long-term supply deals with Qualcomm Inc and six other automotive suppliers on Thursday, moving to secure memory and storage capacity for an auto industry that has begun consuming chips on a scale that rivals data centers.
The company said the strategic customer agreements cover seven tier-one suppliers, including Qualcomm, Visteon, HARMAN, JOYNEXT, DENSO, Astemo and Hyundai Mobis.
According to Micron, the signed contracts set out the terms of supply and pricing commitments, and give the chipmaker early insight into how much vehicle memory its partners will need for upcoming vehicle software. Micron mentioned the agreements during its third-quarter 2026 earnings call.
Modern cars require huge memory
Reports indicate that a high-end car operating with a self-driving computer’s memory requirements could approach 70GB of dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a number that rivals a laptop. For reference, the infotainment system on the Mercedes-Benz MB.OS platform uses between 4 and 12 GB, while the cockpit computer in the new BMW iX3 electric SUV runs on 16 to 24 GB of memory.
Vehicles with L2+ or higher autonomous capability need more than five times the memory and storage of a standard vehicle, Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said. He estimates that such smart vehicles will account for more than 20% of sales in 2026 and exceed 40% by 2030.
Market research company TrendForce expected Prices for automotive SLC NAND flash, used in electronic control units and driver assistance systems, are expected to rise by between 120% and 170% in the second half of 2026.
Micron wants to limit its customers
Samsung Electronics’ automotive memory share reached an estimated 40% last year, surpassing Micron’s 36% share for the first time, according to an S&P Global Mobility report. SK Hynix is also seeking the highest functional safety rating, ASIL-D, for its LPDDR5X.
Micron’s response to these moves is to retain its customers. The company has already signed long-term deals with General Motors and Ford, Mehrotra said last June Micron Reached 16 strategic customer agreements in total. Micron is also the only chipmaker that produces HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) in the US, and its parts can be paired with Nvidia AI processors.
Mehotra also said that “the next phase of automotive innovation will depend on the strength of the ecosystem behind it,” adding that the agreements will help advanced vehicle platforms obtain the memory needed for “richer, safer and smarter experiences.” Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon He claimed This collaboration gives automakers and Tier 1 suppliers “the strong technology foundation they need as vehicles become smarter and more connected.”
Hyundai Mobis CEO Lee Gyu-suk said his company’s work with Micron aims to support future driver assistance systems and software-defined vehicle architectures.
