Cars Going High-tech
With the rapid paradigm shift towards electric and autonomous vehicles, the demand for advanced high-performance semiconductor products has surged, moving away from legacy processes.
According to industry sources on Aug. 13, competition is intensifying in the automotive semiconductor market for processes under 10 nm. While traditional automotive semiconductors were primarily produced in legacy processes above 30 nm, unsuitable for mobile devices or PCs, there’s been a shift towards high-performance chips with central processing units (CPUs). This change is driven by the advancement of vehicle technologies based on electronic devices, such as autonomous driving and in-car entertainment, leading to increased demand for high-performance semiconductors.
Notably, Samsung Electronics has recently agreed to supply Hyundai Motors with its Exynos Auto V920 premium entertainment processor. The chip, set to be implemented by 2025, is expected to be manufactured using a 5-nm process.
The semiconductor can provide drivers with real-time vehicle status and driving information, play high-definition multimedia, and perform high-end gaming functions. It is characterized by its ability to swiftly and efficiently control up to six high-resolution displays and 12 camera sensors.
Global leading Taiwan-based foundry company TSMC recently announced plans to establish its first European factory in Germany and will introduce processes of up to 12 and 16 nm. Given that TSMC’s German plant is anticipated to produce automotive semiconductors, it is expected that European automakers will be able to reliably source semiconductors in the 10-nm range.
According to market research firm Omdia, the global automotive semiconductor market size exceeded US$63.5 billion last year and is projected to grow to US$96.2 billion by 2026.