Huawei, best known for its telecoms equipment and smartphones, has signed or renewed more than 20 patent licensing deals this year, said Steven Geisler, the company’s US Chief Intellectual Property Counsel. Among the licensees announced Thursday were several automakers, including Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche and BMW, which are seeking to add more communication technologies to their vehicles.
“By getting a return on our R&D investment, it allows us to re-invest and re-invent,” Geisler said, referring to research and development.
“Audi respects the intellectual property of third parties and is ready to take licenses, if such licenses are necessary and available to comply with the law,” the German automaker said.
Other automakers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Huawei also said it has stepped up its patent deal with its Finnish rival Nokia, which originally started booking license revenue from Huawei in 2017 when the agreement was signed.
