NXP unveils next gen processors for autonomous and electric vehicles

NXP Semiconductors, considered to be the world’s largest supplier of automotive semiconductors, has unveiled its latest range of high performance microprocessors for next generation electric and autonomous vehicles.

Named the NXP S32, these new microprocessors will manage the systems that control acceleration, braking and steering, both with human and autonomous vehicle control in mind.

See also:

• NXP Semiconductors receives raised $43.2bn takeover bid from Qualcomm

• NXP and Alibaba Cloud to explore smart device and IoT solutions

• Hyundai Mobis to launch autonomous driving sensors by 2020

Vehicles technology is transforming from responding to a driver’s demand into becoming fully autonomous systems that are able to both give commands and execute them – systems that will require more powerful hardware.

“We see that the shift to next-generation autonomous and electric vehicles is introducing huge challenges to carmakers,” said Ian Riches, Executive Director in the Strategy Analytics Global Automotive Practice.

“Not least of these is the ability to get silicon in hand fast enough and with enough performance headroom to ease the transitions to autonomous and advanced EV. A car can be extremely intelligent, but if it can’t act safely on a decision, you don’t have a reliable autonomous system at all.”

The NXP S32 platform will look to overcome these challenges as the world’s first fully scalable automotive computing architecture.