LG Innotek has secured a supply agreement to deliver its automotive Wi-Fi 7 communication module to an undisclosed European automotive parts manufacturer.

Mass production under this $68m agreement is scheduled to begin in 2027.

The module will be installed in audio, video and navigation (AVN) systems that will in turn be supplied to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

The component is designed to enable short-range wireless communication between in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems, smart devices and external routers.

According to LG Innotek, the module achieves data transmission speeds up to three times higher than earlier generations and maintains stable performance across multiple simultaneous connections.

Technically, the module supports an ultra-wide 320MHz bandwidth – twice that offered by Wi-Fi 6E – and uses 4K quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), a method of encoding data within wireless signals.

The higher the QAM level, the greater the volume of data that can be carried at once; Wi-Fi 7's 4K QAM is four times the capacity of the preceding generation, increasing data processing by 20%.

LG Innotek CEO Moon Hyuksoo said: “Growth is expected to gain further momentum, driven by Mobility Solution revenue, which is projected to grow by an average of 20% annually for the foreseeable future, particularly as sales of automotive AP modules begin in earnest in the fourth quarter of this year.

“LG Innotek will continue to lead the market by introducing innovative solutions that deliver differentiated driving experiences.”

The module also employs multiple-input multiple-output technology with dual-antenna support to limit signal degradation and sustain high-speed throughput.

Physically compact – roughly one-sixth the size of a credit card – the module houses more than 150 components, including a Qualcomm communication chip, RF circuitry and antennas.

It is built to function across a temperature range of -40°C to 105°C, providing resilience against both the heat generated during intensive data transmission and sustained exposure to harsh environmental conditions.

LG Innotek indicated that the module's potential applications extend beyond AVN systems to include rear seat entertainment, telematics control units and domain control units.

The company is also pursuing OEM customers in Europe and Japan as part of a wider push into automotive connectivity.

It cited projections showing demand for automotive Wi-Fi solutions growing at an annual rate of 9.6%, driven by rising vehicle connectivity and the trend towards vehicles functioning as “a second living space”.