BlackBerry is making another decisive turn toward automotive software, placing one of its longest-serving engineers, John Wall, at the head of QNX — the company division now responsible for most of BlackBerry’s value. And honestly, for anyone who has tracked BlackBerry’s roller-coaster history, this moment feels like a full-circle plot twist.
QNX has quietly grown from an overlooked asset into the company’s main engine, powering digital systems in millions of vehicles worldwide. Wall, who jokes that he “came with the building,” now finds himself steering a unit with outsized importance in a company still reshaping its identity.
From Overlooked Engineer to Leader of BlackBerry’s Most Vital Business
When BlackBerry bought Ottawa-based QNX 15 years ago, the company had one big goal: fix its smartphone business.
Wall wasn’t too eager to join that mission.
He was building in-car software long before connected vehicles became a tech obsession, and back then his group barely registered on BlackBerry’s balance sheet.
He recalls those years with a sort of amused honesty.
“From 2010 to 2014, nobody was paying attention to me,” he said.
One short sentence breaks the rhythm.
BlackBerry was still a handset giant trying to salvage relevance, while Wall’s work sat quietly in the background, almost forgotten.
Then the phones failed and everything changed.
QNX Becomes the Core of a Reinvented BlackBerry
As BlackBerry’s phone business collapsed, QNX’s importance skyrocketed.
Today it’s the crown jewel of the company.
In the latest reported quarter ending Aug. 31, QNX posted US$63.1 million in revenue — a 15% year-over-year jump.
Even more striking: the division booked a 32% adjusted operating profit margin, the kind of number that makes investors tune in fast.
One sentence pause here.
BlackBerry’s transformation from smartphone maker to automotive software specialist wasn’t smooth, but QNX ended up carrying most of its market value.
In a sense, the company didn’t pivot — it followed the path that Wall had quietly built while nobody was looking.
Dominance in the Software-Defined Vehicle Market
QNX is now the operating system behind the majority of software-defined vehicles.
This is the space where car functions — from infotainment to safety — run on centralized, updatable computing platforms rather than scattered mechanical systems.
QNX’s footprint is massive.
It counts all top 10 global automakers as customers.
In fact, Wall’s team has embedded QNX software into 90% of software-defined cars produced worldwide.
That’s 255 million vehicles rolling on roads with QNX inside.
A short sentence to keep things human.
With cars becoming more digital each year, the company that once symbolized smartphone failure has become a backstage giant in the automotive revolution.
A Leadership Shift That Signals Stability
Now, after 32 years at QNX, Wall is stepping into the role of president.
The move feels less like a shake-up and more like an acknowledgment of reality.
He replaces Mattias Eriksson, who led from Chicago.
Wall, meanwhile, has been the “heart and soul” of the unit for years, according to colleagues and executives.
He’s an engineer first — an electrical engineering graduate who built his career on the slow, steady expansion of vehicle software.
He rarely makes headlines, but in Ottawa’s tech circles he’s known as the person who kept QNX’s vision consistent while BlackBerry stumbled through reinvention.
One short line in between adds some breath.
For many employees, the appointment feels like placing the steering wheel back into the hands of the person who shaped the car.
The Bigger Picture: BlackBerry’s Search for New Identity
BlackBerry spent the past decade shedding its phone identity, selling real estate, spinning off units, and looking for steady ground.
QNX increasingly became that ground.
Investors have reacted cautiously but with curiosity as the company leans harder into automotive tech.
The “software-defined vehicle” market is projected to grow substantially over the next decade, driven by automakers shifting toward centralized computing and constant over-the-air updates.
Here’s a simple reference table summarizing QNX’s current position:
| Metric | QNX Position |
|---|---|
| Automaker Market Penetration | All top 10 global automakers |
| Share of SDV Market | 90% |
| Installed Base | 255 million vehicles |
| Latest Quarterly Revenue | US$63.1 million |
| YoY Growth | 15% |
One clean sentence gives the table a natural landing.
Those numbers highlight why Wall’s promotion matters beyond internal reshuffling — QNX is the company now.
Where QNX Goes Next Under Wall’s Leadership
The automotive software race is heating fast.
Big tech players want in, automakers are building their own systems, and suppliers are under pressure to deliver more reliable digital architecture.
Wall steps into the presidency at a moment when QNX can’t afford missteps.
Its reputation for stability — the thing automakers care about most — is its biggest asset.
One sentence breathes here.
The software-defined vehicle sector is transitioning from hype to execution.
Automakers want platforms that won’t crash, glitch, or stall during updates.
QNX has spent decades building exactly that kind of reliability.
It’s the quiet, almost invisible layer behind fancy dashboards and autonomous driving features.
And now Wall is leading the unit as demand accelerates.
A Veteran Engineer at a Crucial Turning Point
Wall’s personality is understated, but the stakes are high.
His appointment signals continuity, competence, and a reaffirmed commitment to QNX’s engineering-driven culture.
Employees say he prefers hands-on engagement over corporate theatrics.
He has also spent so many years inside the company that he carries its institutional memory like second nature.
One more single-sentence paragraph for pacing.
BlackBerry may never reclaim its early-2000s pop-culture glow, but under Wall’s leadership, QNX looks prepared to deepen its hold on the car software market — one line of code, one model year, one major automaker at a time.
