AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS Driving excellence How the right ASIC partner ensures smarter, safer vehicles A
ccording to ‘The New York Times’, a modern vehicle can contain as many as 3,000 semiconductor chips. From infotainment systems to airbag sensors, ICs play a key role in powering cars, so selecting the right chip supplier is crucial for safe and effective operations. Here, Ross Turnbull, director of business development and product design at custom IC design and supply specialist Swindon Silicon Systems, explores what to consider when selecting an IC partner for automotive applications. For automotive applications, where safety, reliability and performance factors are highly regulated, custom ICs are ideal. Unlike off-the-shelf components, which are engineered for maximum versatility across numerous applications, custom ICs application. By tailoring the chip design to precise operational needs, manufacturers reduced power consumption and smaller form factors.
What should automakers bear in mind when choosing a custom IC partner?
Safety as a priority
Faulty electronic components can lead to costly recalls and endanger lives. Last year, over 330,000 vehicles manufactured between September 2016 and June 2024 were recalled due to faulty seatbelt connector sensors, which could have prevented air bags from deploying as intended.
To ensure compliance with automotive safety standards such as ISO 26262, it is essential that all parties involved in vehicle manufacturing have a thorough understanding of relevant legislation. The ISO to determine the Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL), which is essentially a risk assessment for each individual vehicle component.
Opting for an ASIC provider that has experience in supplying chips for automotive applications means they will be as AEC-Q100 stress testing. By choosing an experienced provider, manufacturers can delays.
Protection against obsolescence around 3,000 parts per car model are expected to become obsolete each year. The development rate within the automotive industry continues to grow as manufacturers digitalise once-mechanical aspects of their vehicles. However, the faster these developments take place, the sooner components become obsolete. An ASIC’s bespoke nature provides some inherent protection, as the design and its manufacturing is under the control of the supplier. However, it is vital to choose a partner with a proactive approach to obsolescence management. This includes selecting silicon processes with long-term availability, maintaining inventory buffers and providing alternatives if processes are discontinued. Such foresight ensures uninterrupted production throughout a vehicle’s lifecycle.
Bringing the process under one roof Managing the multiple stages of ASIC development, from design to testing, packaging and production, can be complex. In the automotive sector, where modern vehicles can have as many as 30,000 individual components, streamlining processes where possible is essential. Full turnkey (FTK) ASIC providers consolidate all these responsibilities under one roof, simplifying supply chain management. FTK is an important consideration in a sector production halts.
This holistic approach not only speeds 8 MARCH 2025 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
up time-to-market but also enhances accountability and ensures consistent manufacturers meet tight deadlines and deliver safe, reliable vehicles.
Scalability and volume production manufacturing exceeded 75 million units in 2023, scalability is a crucial factor when choosing an ASIC supplier.
The ability to ramp up production while essential, especially as the industry faces pandemic-driven chip shortage has eased, emerging technologies such as AI-powered systems are expected to increase pressure on the global semiconductor supply chain. Choosing a partner capable of handling high-volume production while ensuring timely delivery can help manufacturers navigate these challenges and secure their position in the market.
As new developments in the automotive sector pick up pace, the role of ASICs in it is enabling advanced safety features electric vehicles, a carefully chosen ASIC partner can provide the expertise and stability needed to succeed in this dynamic sector. By opting for an ASIC provider that prioritises safety, mitigates obsolescence risks, offers FTK solutions and ensures scalability, automotive manufacturers can unlock the full potential of custom ICs.
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