March 22 (Reuters) - Qualcomm ( QCOM ) on Friday said it

has terminated its bid to acquire Autotalks, an Israeli firm

that makes communications chips to help prevent car crashes.

Qualcomm ( QCOM ), which is best known for its mobile phone chips but

has built an extensive automotive chip business, had said it

would acquire the firm last year. The U.K.'s top antitrust

regulator said in February it was opening a probe into the deal.

"Qualcomm ( QCOM ) has terminated the transaction to acquire

Autotalks due to lack of regulatory approvals in a timely

manner," Qualcomm ( QCOM ) said in a statement. "Automotive is a very

important vertical for Qualcomm ( QCOM ) and we remain fully committed to

our product roadmap, our customers and our partners."

(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco)