Yokohama, Japan & Milpitas, Calif., October 23, 2023 — Socionext Inc announced it is developing custom SoCs for ADAS and AD (Autonomous Driving) using N3A, TSMC’s latest 3nm automotive process technology. Target production of the SoCs will be in 2026.
TSMC Schools 3nm technology enables high-volume production with significant improvements in power, performance, and area (PPA). It compared to previous technology nodes. TSMC’s N3E process promises a remarkable 18% speed enhancement while maintaining power, or a 32% power cut while preserving speed. It also boasts up to a 60% increase in logic density compared to N5. These PPA improvements are a key ingredient for future EV and vehicle deployments. Computing and workload requirements for next-generation ADAS and AD applications often compete with the need for longer battery life and driving range.
The SoCs being developed are designed specifically for advanced driving assistance systems and autonomous driving applications. They achieved exceptional performance and low power consumption. Through the amalgamation of TSMC’s N3A process technology and Socionext’s expertise, they ensure support for ISO26262, AEC-Q100, and IATF-16949. Socionext is addressing the performance and safety demands of the rapidly evolving automotive electronic systems required by Automotive OEMs.
“We are excited to announce that we are continuing our history of adopting TSMC’s leading-edge process technologies. Specifically, we adopt this for automotive chip development” said Hisato Yoshida, Corporate Executive Vice President and the Head of Global Development Group at Socionext. “With the rapid expansion of the ADAS and AD sector, clients are increasingly funding bespoke SoC innovations for distinctive offerings. They are also focusing on the optimization of their hardware compute and software platforms. With customers’ requirements for high levels of integration with multi-core CPU clusters, AI acceleration, image and video processing, high-speed interfaces, as well as security and functional safety support, Socionext’s experience enables our customers to deliver next-generation automotive platforms. TSMC plays a pivotal role as Socionext’s primary silicon manufacturing partner, impacting not just automotive innovation but a diverse spectrum of industries. These applications range from consumer and industrial to datacenter and networking.”
“Socionext has been an early adopter of TSMC’s leading-edge technologies. Moreover, these technologies are utilized for automotive applications,” said Dr. Cliff Hou, Senior Vice President of Europe and Asia Sales at TSMC. “Socionext’s automotive technology platform efficiently utilizes 3nm power for secure ADAS and AD computing without compromising safety or reliability. We are excited to see the innovations they will bring to life.”
Socionext will start designing with the early release of N3A process known as N3AE. This will enable an accelerated schedule to mass production of automotive-grade products. Socionext aspires to be among the pioneering automotive product suppliers by fostering early, tight-knit partnerships with TSMC for optimal performance. The company built these products on the most advanced N3A technology.
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