According to reports from Electronic Enthusiasts (by Cheng Wenzhi), in recent years, with the rapid development of automotive electrification, intelligence, and connectivity, the demand for chips in automobiles has been increasing. Statistics show that traditional fuel vehicles generally require around 500 chips, electric vehicles require about 1500 chips, while high-end intelligent electric vehicles will need more than 3000 chips.
Cheng Peng, CEO of Beijing Four-Dimensional Map Technology Co., Ltd., stated in a public speech that chip costs currently account for only 5% of the BOM cost of automobiles, but he expects that by 2030, chip costs will account for more than 20% of the BOM cost for high-end vehicles.
“This was unimaginable in the era of fuel vehicles, as the engine only accounted for 10% of the cost, while chips could account for 20%.” Cheng Peng believes that the automotive chip sector is worth investing in and has a very promising future.
As a result, we see many domestic chip companies announcing their entry into the automotive industry chain and launching related products. Currently, there are some good companies in China that are performing well in the automotive-grade MCU sector, such as Chipown Microelectronics, Jiefa Technology (a subsidiary of Four-Dimensional Map), BYD, and a few others like Saiteng Microelectronics that have achieved mass production of automotive-grade MCUs, primarily targeting the mid-to-low-end market, with low penetration rates in car manufacturers. Additionally, companies like GigaDevice, National Technology, and Chipsea Technology have some MCU products that have passed or are undergoing automotive-grade certification, and have begun to be adopted in the automotive aftermarket.
Chipown Microelectronics’ KungFu Series MCUs
According to Electronic Enthusiasts, Chipown Microelectronics started laying out its automotive-grade MCU product line early on. In 2012, the KungFu automotive-grade MCU began to be applied in the automotive aftermarket; in 2015, it launched the second generation of automotive-grade MCUs based on the KungFu8 core, while introducing AEC-Q100 device reliability testing standards, entering the automotive OEM market; in 2019, it released 17 models of 8-bit MCUs that have been mass-produced for years and validated in large-scale vehicle applications, all meeting AEC-Q100 reliability certification. That same year, it also mass-produced 32-bit automotive-grade MCUs based on the KungFu32 core, entering the mid-to-high-end market of the automotive field, completing a dual upgrade of products and application markets.
After more than a decade of development, its product line of 8-bit and 32-bit automotive-grade MCUs has nearly 40 models, covering applications in smart keys, power and motors, automotive lighting, instrument assistance and vehicle networking, radar, TBOX, remote ignition, anti-theft alarms, and vehicle searching in both OEM and aftermarket applications.
It can be said that automotive-grade MCUs are the core business and main growth point for Chipown Microelectronics in recent years. It is understood that Chipown Microelectronics has been continuously improving the management processes for automotive-grade MCUs over the past few years, ensuring that every step from chip design, manufacturing, to quality control meets the standards and specifications for automotive electronics, and has established a reliability laboratory through continuous investment to ensure the reliability testing process of AEC-Q100, continuously enhancing the performance and reliability of its automotive-grade MCUs.
In terms of new product development, Chipown Microelectronics has set a strategy to launch multiple new products each year. In the first half of 2021, it released the KF32A156 chip, mainly used for body control module applications, featuring 512KB Flash, 64KB RAM, supporting 2 channels of CANFD, and operating temperature range reaching Grade 1 (-40 to 125°C); in the second half of the year, it launched a new member, KF32A146, which has 256KB Flash, 32KB RAM, a main frequency of 72MHz, supports 1 channel of CANFD, and operates within Grade 1 temperature range (-40°C to 125°C). The mass production of KF32A156 and KF32A146 signifies that Chipown is providing greater value in power compatibility and high-speed CAN bus communication, enabling comprehensive technical coverage for body control applications.
Regarding future plans, Chipown Microelectronics officially launched the ISO26262 project at the end of 2021, and has begun the development of multi-core products including ASIL-D level applications for automotive engines and domain controllers, diversifying its product line layout around the automotive ecosystem and improving its own KungFu core ecological system.
Four-Dimensional Map (Jiefa Technology) Automotive-Grade MCU Layout
At the end of 2018, Four-Dimensional Map independently developed and mass-produced the first domestic 32-bit automotive-grade MCU chip AC7811 that complies with AEC-Q100, which has achieved mass production delivery in automotive applications such as ABS anti-lock braking systems and BMS battery management systems. The company has established comprehensive cooperation with domestic and foreign car manufacturers such as BMW, Toyota, Ford, and Volkswagen, with shipments exceeding one million units to domestic OEMs like SAIC, FAW, and Changan.
In early 2020, it mass-produced the second-generation MCU product AC7801x covering different grades of body control applications, rapidly expanding into OEM applications. The MCU-AC7801x, based on the Arm Cortex-M0+ core, is mainly used in automotive electronics and high-reliability industrial fields. AC7801x meets AEC-Q100 specifications and is equipped with advanced CAN-FD bus interfaces, rich peripherals, and large-capacity Flash, offering flexible adaptability, low power consumption, and high reliability; packaging options include LQFP48, QFN32, and TSSOP20.
Additionally, according to information from Jiefa Technology’s official website, the company is about to launch a new generation of MCU AC7840x series, which is a MCU chip that meets functional safety ISO26262 ASIL-B level, using Arm Cortex-M4F core, compliant with AEC-Q100 Grade 1 automotive standards. Furthermore, this series will provide rich configurations and flexible options, with pin counts ranging from 48 to 176 and Flash capacities from 256KB to 2MB.
BYD Semiconductor Automotive-Grade MCU Strategy
BYD Semiconductor has over a decade of experience in the MCU field, gradually extending from industrial-grade MCU chips to automotive-grade MCU chips. In 2018, BYD Semiconductor launched its first generation of 8-bit automotive-grade MCU chips, featuring high-speed cores, LIN communication, capacitive touch buttons, PWM output, and other functions, mainly applied in automotive lighting and interior button control scenarios.
In 2019, it launched its first generation of 32-bit automotive-grade MCU chips, designed according to ISO26262 safety level standards, integrating various communication modules, featuring multiple counters, timers, and PWM output functions, as well as high-precision analog-to-digital conversion capabilities, supporting instant data storage and other general-purpose peripheral modules, applied in electronic controls for power windows, electric seats, wipers, and instruments. The cumulative shipment volume ranks first among domestic manufacturers, being mass-loaded in all series of BYD models.
Saiteng Microelectronics Automotive-Grade MCU Layout
Since its establishment in 2016, Saiteng Micro has been continuously enriching its product line, evolving from purely main control MCUs to combinations of main control MCUs and supporting power devices, and to comprehensive solutions based on proprietary chips, fully meeting the needs of car manufacturers and their Tier-I/II suppliers.
Since its inception, the company has launched three series of MCU products: 8-bit low-power MCU-ASM87L(A)164X, 8-bit value MCU-ASM87F(A)081X, and 32-bit motor control MCU-ASM30(A)M083X, with many models passing AEC-Q100 standard certification, successfully applied in automotive LED dynamic flowing lights, vehicle wireless charging transmitters, and window lift components.
According to publicly available information, Saiteng Microelectronics achieved mass shipments of its main control MCUs in Geely’s flagship models in 2018, and from 2019 to 2020, it achieved mass shipments of MCU + power devices to Chery New Energy, Dongfeng Liuqi, JMC, SAIC-GM-Wuling, and JAC Motors. By 2021, the number of cooperative car manufacturers increased to include SAIC-GM, Guangzhou Automobile, and BYD.
According to its official website, Saiteng Microelectronics completed several tens of millions in Series A financing on January 27 of this year, which will accelerate the research and market promotion of Saiteng Microelectronics’ “MCU + Power” automotive-grade chip combination.
Although the automotive-grade MCU market is still primarily dominated by overseas semiconductor manufacturers, there are significant opportunities for domestic MCU companies in the Chinese market, as the country is promoting chip localization. Furthermore, from a market perspective, domestic automotive-grade MCU products also hold value. Firstly, domestic automotive-grade MCU products are cheaper; secondly, when MCU products are iterated, car manufacturers have substantial say and can indicate future directions. Previously, feedback from car manufacturers received little response from foreign semiconductor manufacturers. Coupled with the rapid emergence of domestic semiconductor manufacturers in recent years, after a process of elimination, those that remain will possess sufficient product strength.
Additionally, the rapid development of new energy vehicles has driven the demand for automotive-grade chips, along with the ongoing chip shortage since the end of 2020, providing numerous opportunities for domestic automotive chip companies. Many domestic MCUs have already been tested by car manufacturers and Tier 1 companies, with some even entering the OEM market. It can be said that the next few years present a favorable opportunity for domestic automotive-grade MCU products, and even other automotive-grade products, to enter the automotive industry chain.
Disclaimer: This article is original from Electronic Enthusiasts, please indicate the source above when reprinting. For group discussions, please add WeChat elecfans999, for submission and interview requests, please send an email to [email protected].
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