FocalPoint announces strategic collaboration with STMicroelectronics to deliver an enhanced GNSS solution for automotive

Rhea-AI Summary

FocalPoint and STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) have announced a strategic collaboration to enhance GNSS solutions for automotive applications. The partnership integrates FocalPoint's S-GNSS® Auto software with ST's Teseo chipsets, delivering superior navigation performance for autonomous vehicles. The combined solution shows impressive results, improving measurement accuracy by up to 4x and position accuracy by up to 3x in challenging environments like urban canyons and forested roads. This collaboration follows FocalPoint's recent strategic investment from GM Ventures and partnership with General Motors. The integration, delivered as a firmware update to Teseo devices, offers automotive OEMs a cost-effective way to enhance ADAS systems and extend hands-free driving capabilities beyond open-sky roads.

Positive

• Enhanced GNSS accuracy: Up to 4x improvement in measurement accuracy and 3x in position accuracy in challenging environments
• Cost-effective implementation through simple firmware updates to existing Teseo devices
• Strategic backing from GM Ventures and collaboration with General Motors indicates strong market validation
• Solution enables expansion of hands-free driving capabilities beyond open-sky roads

Negative

• None.

Insights

Automotive Technology Analyst

STM's Teseo GNSS chips with FocalPoint's software deliver 3-4x better positioning accuracy, strengthening STM's automotive positioning technology portfolio.

This strategic collaboration between STMicroelectronics and FocalPoint represents a significant advancement in automotive positioning technology. The integration of FocalPoint's S-GNSS® Auto software with ST's Teseo GNSS chipsets addresses a critical weakness in autonomous driving systems – the unreliability of satellite positioning in challenging environments like urban canyons and forested roads.

The technical improvements are substantial: up to 4x enhancement in measurement accuracy and up to 3x improvement in position accuracy in difficult multipath environments. These aren't incremental gains but transformative improvements that could significantly expand the operational domain of hands-free driving systems beyond optimal conditions.

What makes this partnership particularly notable is the implementation method. The solution can be deployed as a firmware update to existing Teseo devices, allowing automotive OEMs to enhance positioning capabilities without hardware redesigns – translating to faster time-to-market and lower implementation costs.

The timing aligns with increasing industry focus on GNSS as a critical sensor for ADAS and autonomous systems. GM Ventures' recent investment in FocalPoint signals broader market validation of this technology approach. For STMicroelectronics, this collaboration strengthens their automotive semiconductor portfolio at a time when positioning accuracy is becoming a key differentiator in the competitive ADAS component market.

The combination of ST's Teseo chipsets with FocalPoint's S-GNSS^® Auto software delivers enhanced GNSS accuracy in challenging environments

CAMBRIDGE, England, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FocalPoint, a UK-based software company providing next-gen positioning solutions for automotive, wearables and smartphones, has announced a strategic collaboration with STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications. The joint offering provides automotive OEMs a combined solution that enhances navigation performance by improving GNSS reliability and accuracy — key to making autonomous vehicles safer.

Within this collaboration, FocalPoint will integrate its S-GNSS^® Auto software, powered by Supercorrelation^™ technology, onto ST's Teseo devices, known for their high performance and multi-constellation support. Combined with S-GNSS^® Auto, they will offer next-level industry-leading reliability and accuracy, surpassing other commercially available options.

GNSS is an important component in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), providing absolute location data. However, its accuracy is compromised in urban canyons and forested roads due to signal interference. S-GNSS^® Auto transforms GNSS into a reliable, high-performance sensor in these challenging scenarios. This allows automakers to harness the full potential of GNSS and confidently extend the operational range of hands-free driving beyond open-sky roads. Delivered as a simple firmware update to the Teseo device, S-GNSS^® Auto is cost-effective and easy to adopt.

This engagement is a significant milestone in the growth and demand for FocalPoint technology that follows a recent strategic investment from GM Ventures and collaboration with General Motors (NYSE: GM).

Scott Pomerantz, CEO at FocalPoint, said, "The combination of FocalPoint's S-GNSS^® Auto and ST's Teseo chips offers a powerful approach for automotive OEMs looking to advance ADAS systems. The Teseo receivers are specifically optimised to take full advantage of S-GNSS^® Auto, maximizing GNSS performance, improving system reliability, and enhancing accuracy where traditional GNSS systems fall short."

Luca Celant, Digital Audio and Signal Solutions Division General Manager at STMicroelectronics, said, "By integrating FocalPoint's S-GNSS^® Auto software onto our Teseo receivers, we enable OEMs to confidently advance automation, while setting a new standard for navigation accuracy and reliability."

Key findings from the collaboration show that the combined solution of ST's Teseo devices and FocalPoint's S-GNSS^® Auto enhances measurement accuracy by up to 4 times and position accuracy by up to 3 times (in challenging multipath environments).

More details are available upon request. Contact FocalPoint at contact@focalpointpositioning.com for the full results report.

About FocalPoint

FocalPoint is a UK-based technology company specializing in next-generation GNSS positioning solutions for automotive, wearables and smartphones. Their patented Supercorrelation^™ technology boosts the accuracy, reliability and security of radio receivers. FocalPoint's S-GNSS^® Auto software is designed specifically for the automotive sector, delivering the GNSS reliability needed to advance vehicle autonomy. Leading chipset manufacturers and OEMs partner with FocalPoint to improve device capabilities, benefitting billions of users who rely on accurate location technology.

Headquartered in Cambridge, with offices in Bristol and in the United States, FocalPoint has earned numerous accolades, including the 2024 Cars of the Future Self-Driving Industry Award in the V2X category, and recognition from the UK Royal Institute of Navigation and the US Institute of Navigation.

Website: focalpointpositioning.com ; auto.focalpointpositioning.com 

Media contact:
Ramya Sriram
contact@focalpointpositioning.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2690890/FocalPoint_STMicroelectronics.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2690889/FocalPoint_Logo.jpg

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/focalpoint-announces-strategic-collaboration-with-stmicroelectronics-to-deliver-an-enhanced-gnss-solution-for-automotive-302460189.html

SOURCE Focal Point Positioning Ltd

FAQ

What improvements does the STM-FocalPoint GNSS collaboration bring to autonomous vehicles?

The collaboration improves GNSS accuracy up to 4x in measurement and 3x in positioning in challenging environments like urban canyons and forested roads, enabling more reliable autonomous driving capabilities.

How will STM implement FocalPoint's S-GNSS Auto software in their Teseo devices?

The implementation will be done through a simple firmware update to ST's Teseo devices, making it a cost-effective solution for automotive OEMs.

What is the significance of GM Ventures' involvement with FocalPoint?

GM Ventures' strategic investment and collaboration with General Motors demonstrates market validation and confidence in FocalPoint's GNSS technology.

How does the STM-FocalPoint solution address GNSS limitations in urban environments?

The solution transforms GNSS into a reliable, high-performance sensor in urban canyons and forested roads where traditional GNSS systems struggle with signal interference.

What impact will this collaboration have on ADAS systems?

The collaboration enables automotive OEMs to extend the operational range of hands-free driving beyond open-sky roads and advance their ADAS systems with more reliable navigation.